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PLAYS AND GAMES 



FOR 



SCHOOLS 



ISSUED BY 

C P. CARY 

State Superintendent 



91 




MADISON, WIS. 

Democrat Printing Company, State Printer 

1911 



V 






TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Page 

Introduction vii 

Play necessary to health viii 

Play contributes toward individual and social success. . ix 

Ethical value of play x 

Play a help to school work x 

Why children in rural schools need instruction in play. xi 

Games for Independence Day celebrations xii 

Law requiring instruction in games and playground man- 
agement xiii 

Supervision of play by the teacher xiii 

Group games xiv 

Boys' and girls' games xiv 

Selection of games xv 

Scnool gymnastics xv 

Some cautions xv 

Play grounds xvi 

Play rooms xvii 

"Give them a place to play" xviii 

Plays and games for schools 1 

Playground apparatus 5 5 

Suggestions for a county field day 6 7 

List of books on games and playgrounds 76 

Index to games 78 

General index 83 



INTRODUCTION. 



One of the most pronounced of recent movements for child 
welfare is that which has for its ohject the supplying of ade- 
quate opportunities for play. With the conviction that this 
movement is timely and that the schools of the state should make 
no delay in falling into line with it, this publication has been 
prepared. The introductory pages are given over to a general 
discussion of the value and need of play and other topics bear- 
ing on the use of the games described. It is desirable that 
teachers should read this over carefully in order that the games 
may be selected and used to the best advantage. 

The aim has been to prepare a suggestive selection of games 
rather than a comprehensive collection. This will explain the 
omission of games which many perhaps may think ought to have 
been included. The needs of rural schools have been kept prom- 
inently in mind. While many of the games are suitable for high 
schools, yet the selection has been made mainly for elementary 
schools. The attention of schools desiring additional games is 
directed to the booklist on page 76. 

The work of compilation has been done by 0. S. Rice, State 
Library Clerk. The manuscript of the games was submitted to 
Prof. G. W. Ehler, Dr. J. C. Elsom, and Miss Abbie S. Mayhew 
of the University of Wisconsin, to Prof A. M. Royee of the 
Superior Normal School, to Miss Bettina G-arwick, physical di- 
rector of the Stevens Point Normal School, to members of the 
faculty of the Milwaukee, La Crosse, and Oshkosh Normal 
Schools, and to Supt. G. J. Zimmerman of Racine County. For 
valuable suggestions made by these persons sincere thanks are 
due, 



viii Plays and Games for Schools. 



PLAY NECESSARY TO HEALTH. 

Health and vigor depend largely upon the development of the 
heart and lungs in the period of growth. Lack of proper play 
activity in childhood and youth retards the development of these 
organs, and thus often lays the foundation for weakness through- 
out life. A proper selection and use of school games supplies 
that stimulus to the development of the vital organs which makes 
for bodily strength and efficiency. "While there may be some dan- 
ger of over-exercise in play, yet this is likely to be the case only 
when the effort is made to develop a few to a high degree in 
athletics to the neglect of the many. One of the main objects of 
this publication is to help distribute play activities among all 
the school children and so to prevent over-exercise by some and 
under-exercise by others. 

It is said that three million people are constantly ill in our 
country and that half of these are suffering from preventable 
diseases. Each year one preventable disease alone— tubercu- 
losis — causes nearly as many deaths as the number killed in the 
four years of the Civil "War. The fight against the great white 
plague and other preventable diseases is a hopeful sign of the 
times. No other agency can do so much in this fight for human- 
ity as the public school. "While proper instruction in health mat- 
ters can do much yet such instruction is by itself entirely in- 
adequate. In fact it often happens that school attendance proves 
positively detrimental to the child's health. "When children 
went to school only three or four months a year, there was not 
much likelihood that their health would be impaired by the strain 
of school work and confinement in the school room. "With the 
lengthening of the school year to a minimum of eight months and 
with a compulsory period but little less the maintenance of the 
child's health becomes an important problem. Care will have to 
be taken that compulsory education shall not mean compulsory 
ill health. 

One of the most effective weapons for combating disease is the 
preservation of the health tone in order that diseases may not 
be so readily contracted and so that if they are contracted the 
body will have more power to bring about recovery. Now, the 
resisting power of the body can be kept at its best only when 
there is suital le bodily exercise in the open air. For this reason 



Plays and Games for Schools. ix 

alone adequate playgrounds in connection with every school are 
a necessity. In fact, schools would be fully justified if they 
made the ability to play a reasonable number of outdoor games 
a requirement for a grade in physiology and hygiene. 

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." 

"The playground is the proper antidote for the factory." 

"A playground should be more than a place to play or 'kill time;' it 
should be a real school of health." — E. B. Mero. 

"A playground before is cheaper than a tuberculosis sanitarium 
afterwards." — The Playground. 

The success of the tuberculosis crusade depends on the upbuilding 
of proper habits. Every effort must be made to implant in children a 
hunger and thirst for fresh air. Of all things we know, playgrounds 
are, perhaps, of the greatest importance in creating this hunger. 
Henry Baied Favill, M. D., President, 

The Chicago Tuberculosis Institute. 



PLAY CONTRIBUTES TOWARD INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL 

SUCCESS. 

The vigor of mind and body required and developed in good 
playground games fosters such vigor throughout life, and with 
the taste for wholesome pleasure produced, will help mightily 
toward a sane, successful, and optimistic life. This means fewer 
people in poorhouses, insane asylums, sanitariums, and hospitals. 

Play trains in cooperation and loyalty. "All team games ap- 
proximate the conditions of tribal life, in which loyalty was born 
to the race." 

Play is democratic. Native ability is recognized and all are 
given an equal chance. We may say that the playground is 
the true "melting pot" of the conglomerate American nation- 
alities. 

"The boy without a playground is father to the man without a 
job." — Joseph Lee, President of the American Playground Association. 

"Successful manhood is a later chapter than successful boyhood, but 
both belong to the same volume." — George E. Johnson in "The Country 
Boy." 

"It is doubtful if a great man ever accomplished his life work with- 
out having reached a play interest in it." — George E. Johnson. 

"The play of the young being once successfully solved, the play of 
the adult will offer no special difficulties." — Groos. 

"On the playground the child lives, while in school he prepares to 
Jive. That is why it is true that if you can tell me how a child plays. 



x Plays and Games for Schools. 

I can tell you how be will work. The play life of a people indicates 
mere than anything else its vitality, morals, intelligence, and fitness 
to live." — Luther Halsey Gulick. 

"To play in the sunlight is a child's right, and it is not to be cheated 
out of it. And when it is cheated out of it, it is not the child but the 
community that is robbed of that besides which all its wealth is but 
tinsel and trash. For men, not money, make a country great, and 
joyless children do not make gcod men." — Jacob A. Riis. 



ETHICAL VALUE OP PLAY. 

The phrases "a square deal" and "fair play" are much in 
use to denote justice in the various relations of man to man. It 
is interesting to note that they are derived from language used 
in play. They designate, in fact, a leading characteristic of play 
activities, one which will influence in favor of justice the polit- 
ical, profession.!!, and business world. It will help to make true 
in adult life the cry of the playground — when dishonesty is 
discovered — "Cheat, cheat, never beat!" 

"The piay of children has the mightiest influence on the mainten- 
ance or non-maintenance of laws." — Plato. 

"The playground is our great ethical laboratory." — Dr. Luther 
Halsey Gulick. 

"A boy cannot play games without learning subordination and re- 
spect for law and order." — Joseph Lee. 

"One person can take care of children on a playground, while it 
would take eight or ten policemen to see to them on the street." — 
H. E. Downer. 

We recommend "vast additions to playgrounds, wholesome recrea- 
tion centers, gymnasiums, and athletic fields, as the surest preven- 
tives of juvenile mischief and crime, and as affording young people 
nlaces where they may learn to bear defeat with courage and suc- 
cess with modesty." — International Prison Congress. 

"Many practical questions for the solution of which we have been 
looking to the church and school will be found to belong to the 
playground to solve." — Stoyan Tsanoff. 



FLAY A HELP TO SCHOOL WORK. 

By means of adequate playgrounds and play facilities in con- 
nection with schools regularity of attendance is fostered. Chil- 
dren "play" hookey in order to play. Change conditions so 
that they will go to school in order that they may play and yet 
' oj neglect their school work. 



Plays and Games for Schools. xi 

Children can without detriment attend school al an earlier 
age if proper play is provided. The early age at which children 
enter the kindergarten is an illustration. But most schools do 
not have a kindergarten department and often children of kin- 
dergarten age enter the primary department. This greatly in- 
creases the need of games in such schools. 

Study unrelieved by play degenerates into drudgery. Drudg- 
ery means not only loss of interest hut actual distaste for the 
work. The result must of necessity be disastrous to the end 
for which the school exists. Such an attitude toward work, too, 
is likely to continue through life. 

"A new basis of understanding [as a result of play] between 
teacher and pupil must not be overlooked, for instead of' the task- 
master and crank the teacher stands revealed as the friend, com- 
panion, and playmate of the scholar." — John Bradford, Boys' Sec'y 
Y. M. C. A., Pensacola, Florida. 

"Just as the physician in his search for a cure for consumption 
b-^s circumscribed the earth and finally come back to the thing in 
pll the world the simplest and nearest, the first demand of the 
child upon entrance into the world — fresh air, — so we in our search 
for the best means of educating our children are coming back to 
that which was the first expression of his awakening soul, — his 
play." — G. E. Johnson, in "Education by Plays and Games." 

"To set results from a boy he must be treated as though he were 
something more than a fungus growth, a wart, as it were, upon the 
face of the earth. He must have enough of recreation and pleasure 
to keen the vinegar out of his nature, and no man has the right 
to deny his children that." — Governor John A. Johnson. 



WHY CHILDREN IN RURAL SCHOOLS NEED INSTRUCTION 

IN PLAY. 

Some who admit the necessity of instruction in play for city 
children may claim there is no such need for country children. 

It is true that children in the country are more likely to get 
exercise without playing than city children, because of chores 
and other work. But the bodily movements thus brought about 
are of such a nature as to produce development of (he body which 
needs correction through play activities. All work and no play 
not only "makes Jack a dull boy," but also tends to make his 
bodily movements slow and clumsy rather 1han quick and grace- 
ful. The deliberate movements of work need to be supplemented 
by the quick and unpremeditated movements of play, in order 
to bring about complete control of the body, 



xii Plays and Games for Schools. 

In these days of drift cityward, country children should be 
made to feel that the country has many attractions. The one 
great attraction of childhood is play. Therefore, it ought by all 
means to be provided for by country schools. In the varied ac- 
tivities of city life there are many things to attract the interest 
of children ; life in the country is by comparison in this respect 
monotonous. This monotony may be relieved by the proper use 
of games. 

It may be urged that children play enough without being 
taught to play. If we mean by this mischief and "fooling," the 
point is perhaps well taken ; but the less of these the better. 
"Children inherit the instinct to play, but they do not inherit 
games." This inherited instinct should be turned into useful 
channels by teaching the children a sufficient number and variety 
of suitable games. 

Following is an excerpt on this subject from the Tenth Year 
Booh of the National Society for the Study of Education : 

"It must be borne in mind that play in the country is not so much 
to promote health as to develop the higher social instincts, to intro- 
duce another powerful centripetal factor into country life which will 
tend to counteract the expulsive features which have been so actively 
depopulating our rural districts. The country child does not play 
enough. His repertoire of games is surprisingly small and inade- 
quate. If he would play more he would love the country better, see 
more beauty in it, feel the isolation less/' 



GAMES FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS. 

The movement for a sane Fourth relies for its success to a con- 
siderable extent upon the substitution of games and plays for the 
"noise fest" and "orgie of blood and fire" which the celebration 
of Independence Day had become. In order that games may be 
available for this purpose it will be necessary that schools train 
the children in a repertoire of games. Teachers will in this way 
further a cause which has much to do with the development of 
patriotism. Speaking of Independence Day, John Adams said: 
"It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows, games, sports, 
bonfires, illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other 
from this time forward forever." 

Games and athletic events described in this pamphlet are 
many of them suitable for use on Independence Day. Some of the 
suggestions for a county field day (page 67) can be made use 



Plays and Games for Schools. xiii 

of for Independence Day. Suggestions in detail will he found in 
the Memorial Day Annual from year to year. 



LAW REQUIRING INSTRUCTION IN GAMES AND PLAY- 
GROUND MANAGEMENT. 

That teachers will be expected hereafter to be able to give in- 
struction in games appears from the following excerpt from 
Chapter 228 of the Laws of 1911 : 

"The board of regents of the state normal schools shall require a 
definite and thorough course in the theory and art of physical educa- 
tion, and instruction in games and playground management, to be 
taught in every state normal school. Examination in this branch 
shall be required of all candidates for' a normal school diploma and 
normal school certificate, the same as in other branches of the normal 
school course of study. 

"The county training school board of each and every county train- 
ing school for teachers now or hereafter to be organized in this state 
shall require a course of instruction in physical education and instruc- 
tion in games and playground management to be taught in every 
county training school." 



SUPERVISION OF PLAY BY THE TEACHER. 

It is thought by many that children need no instruction or 
direction in play; that the play instinct is so strong in them 
that no help is necessary. Some one has well said, ' ' Children 
inherit the play instinct, but they do not inherit games." In 
fact, when children do not have a fairly good repertoire of games, 
their free time may be spent mainly in "fooling" and so tend to 
develop a loafing habit, if nothing worse, while the positive bene- 
fits that go with active, well-directed play are entirely lost, 

The first duty of the school, then, with respect to play is to 
instruct the children in a number of games. It is mainly to help 
schools fulfill this duty that this publication is issued. Those 
games should be taught that are adapted to the pupils in an.y 
particular school. By getting some of the older children inter- 
ested in learning the games and instructing the younger children 
in playing them, teachers can materially lessen the demands on 
their own time and energy. A good authority says that chil- 
dren should know thirty or forty games that they play together. 

The teacher should be on the playground with the children 
much of the time during the free periods ; not for the purpose 



xiv Plays and Games for Schools. 

of dominating play activities, but for tlic purpose of helping, 
suggesting, and instructing whenever necessary. Great free- 
dom should be allowed children in choosing games to play. The 
teacher, however, should insist on fairness and good conduct in 
all play activities. 



GROUP GAMES. 

It should be the aim to encourage playing by all pupils and 
to discourage a division of the school into a small number of 
players and a large number of onlookers. Accordingly there 
should be a wide variety in the kinds of games played, and 
group games, in which groups or classes are pitted against one 
another, should be much u. ed. For example, in the broad jump, 
according to the group method, the players are divided into two 
groups as nearly equal in number and playing ability as may 
be. The total distance jumped by each group is divided by the 
number in the group and thus the average distance jumped is 
determined. 

It will readily be seen that by the group method the poorest 
players may be included and stimulated to their best efforts. 

In dividing the players into groups it is suggested that the 
teacher explain the object of the game, then appoint a leader for 
each group, the leaders thus selected to choose players alter- 
nately. Which leader shall have first choice may be determined 
by lot. Groups once selected may remain unchanged a day, a 
week, or any time agreed upon. 



BOYS' AND GIRLS' GAMES. 

Up to about twelve years of age girls and boy., can play prac- 
tically the same games, with the exception that girls should not 
play some of the rougher names which are suitable for the boys. 
It is well, however, to have the girls and boys play many games 
separately. Games sni'.-ible only for boys or for girls are indi- 
cated in the tabulations under the titles. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 



SELECTION OF GAMES. 

In deciding which games are to be used and which children 
are to play them the teacher should take into consideration the 
natural tastes of the pupils, their age, physical condition as to 
health and strength, the season of the year, and other points that 
will suggest themselves if the matter be given thoughtful atten- 
tion. If, after a fair trial, a game is not liked by the children 
or is found unsuitable for other reasons it should be dropped. 
Prejudice against certain games may exist in some communities 
and this is usually a sufficient reason for selecting other games 
in their place. 

Before attempting to teach a game the teacher should be sure 
to learn the game herself. This will be necessary in order to 
instill confidence both in the teacher and pupils. 



SCHOOL GYMNASTICS. 

Gymnastics do not come within the scope of this publication. 
For guidance in such exercises, see Bancroft's "School Gymnas- 
tics," Township library list, No. 180. When they are given 
indoors, care should be taken that the air of the room is not 
dust-laden ; the windows should be opened before and during 
the exercises. When the weather permits gymnastics should be 
practiced out of doors. They should never be employed to such 
an extent as to seriously interfere with the playing of games. 



SOME CAUTIONS. 

Contagion must be carefully guarded against in some games. 
For instance, in blind man's buff, the same bandage should not 
be used on more than one child, in order that there may be no 
danger of transmitting contagious eye diseases. 

In cold weather be careful that children do not rush out to 
play inadequately protected against the cold. 

Be on guard to prevent wet feet, especially in cold weathti. 

Always be on guard to prevent over-exertion. 



xvi Plays and Games for Schools. 



PLAYGROUNDS. 

A large proportion of city and village schools have play- 
grounds entirely too restricted in extent; some have no play- 
grounds whatever. Even schools in the country, where land 
is comparatively cheap, do not as a rule have sufficient play- 
ground space. Country schools should have grounds of at least 
an acre in extent a large part of which should be for playground 
purposes. In cities and villages there should be no further delay 
in securing adequate playgrounds before the rise in value of real 
estate shall perhaps for all time prevent proper provision for 
outdoor play. A space of at least sixty square feet per pupil, 
exclusive of ground occupied by buildings and used for trees, 
shrubs, grass, and flowers, should be secured for the playing of 
ordinary games, and as much more as may be necessary for an 
athletic field for the use of the older children. The law now 
permits the condemnation of not to exceed four acres for school- 
ground purposes. Of course, the law does not prevent the se- 
curing of a larger area provided it can be done without condem- 
nation proceedings. 

A separate space should be set aside for the little children ; 
also a space where the girls may play by themselves. 

School playgrounds may well be used for community celebra- 
tions of various kinds, such as celebrations on Memorial Day, 
Independence Day, and Labor Day. In the planning of play- 
grounds, such use should be provided for. 

Playgrounds should be kept in a neat and cleanly condition. 
Spitting should be prohibited. The problem of dust is some- 
times a difficult one. If, however, the grounds are of sufficient 
size and covered with grass to start with, dust is not so likely 
to give trouble. 

Shade. —There should be shaded areas on playgrounds, where 
children may play games on hot, sunshiny days. Trees along 
the border of the grounds will answer for this purpose and will 
not interfere with the playing of games requiring considerable 
space. This need of shade may well be taken into consideration 
in tree-planting in connection with Arbor Day. 

Marking. — Boundary lines and goals often need to be plainly 
marked. For this purpose whitewash may be applied with a 



Plays and Games for Schools. xvii 

sprinkling can from which the sprinkler has been removed, or 
with an old pail having a hole of suitable size in the bottom. 
Dry marks may be made with slaked lime, a mixture of sand 
and whiting, or with marble dust. White tape, fastened to the 
ground with wooden staples or pins is serviceable for some pur- 
poses. 

PLAY ROOMS. 

A room in which children can play in rainy weather is very 
desirable, especially for the youngest children. It often happens 
that a schoolroom is for some reason not in use for ordinary school 
purposes. Such a room ought by all means to be utilized for play. 
In planning school buildings play rooms ought if possible to be 
provided. Out-door play, however, is always to be preferred 
when the weather permits. 



xviii Plays and Games for Schools. 



GIVE THEM A PLACE TO PLAY 
By Denis A. McCarthy 

Plenty of room for dives and dens, 

(Glitter and glare and sin!) 
Plenty of room for prison pens, 

(Gather the criminals in!) 
Plenty of room for jails and courts, 

(Willing enough to pay) 
But never a place for the lads to race, 

No, never a place to play! 

Plenty of room for the running sores 

(Mammon must have the best!) 
Plenty of room for the running sores 

That rot in the city's breast! 
Plenty of room for the lures that lead 

The hearts of our youth astray, 
But never a cent on a playground spent 

No, never a place to play! 

Plenty of room for schools and balls, 

Plenty of room for art; 
Plenty of room for teas and balls, 

Platform, stage and mart. 
Proud is the city — she finds a place 

For many a fad today, 
But she's more than blind if she fails to find 

A place for the boys to play! 

Give them a chance for innocent sport, 

Give them a chance for fun — 
Better a playground plot than a court 

And a jail when the harm is done! 
Give them a chance — if you stint them now, 

Tomorrow you'll have to pay 
A larger bill for a darker ill, 

So give them place to play! 

■ — Selected. 



PLAYS AND GAMES FOR SCHOOLS. 



Advancing Statues. 

Playground. 5 or more players. All Forms. 

The object of this game is to teach children alertness and 
self-control. 

The children stand on a line about thirty feet from the 
teacher or some older pupil who acts as leader. When the 
leader faces them they are to remain motionless as statues, 
but when his back is turned they may advance. By turning 
unexpectedly at irregular intervals the leader seeks to catch 
the children in motion. A child detected in motion must go 
back to the line and start over again. The child first cross- 
ing the line on which the teacher stands is the winner. 

Variation. — The leader counts ten before turning. The count- 
ing may be fast or slow, regular or irregular. 

All-up Relay. 

Playground. 10 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 

Behind a starting line drawn on the ground the players are 
arranged in two or more single files (one behind the other in 
each file), there being a like number of players in the different 
files. Directly in front of each file, and at a distance of from 
twenty to fifty feet from it, two circles are drawn, each three 
feet in diameter and with rims touching. In one side of each 
pair of circles three Indian clubs (or billets of wood of equal 
diameter and height and sawed off square at the ends) are 
placed on end. 

At a given signal the foremost player in each file runs for- 
ward and with one hand lifts the clubs or billets, one at a time, 



2 Plays and Games for Schools. 

and sets them down in the adjoining circle so that they stand 
erect and do not touch the circumference of the circle. This done 
he hastens back to his file, touches the outstretched hand of the 
next player (the file having moved forward so that the player 
to be touched off toes the starting line), and takes his place 
back of the line. The instant the second player has been 
touched off he runs forward and sets up the clubs or billets in 
the other circle. He then runs back and touches off the third 
player, and so each player in turn runs forward as he is 
touched off by the preceding player and moves the clubs from 
one circle to the other. That file wins whose last player first 
crosses the starting line on his return. 

Variation. — A cap or other object is laid upon the ground 
about thirty feet in front of each file. The players, each in 
his turn, run around the object from one to three times, as 
agreed upon, then return and touch off the nexl runner. 



Animal Blind Man's Buff. 

Playground or schoolroom. 8 or more players. All Forms 
Cane. 

A circle of players is formed and they dance around a blind- 
folded player who lias a cane in Ills hand. When he taps on 
the ground or floor or claps liis hands three times, the players 
come to a stop. He then points to some player who must 
take hold of the end of the cane. The blind man then asks 
him to make the noise of some animal, say a dog, cat, cow, or 
horse. The one making this noise should try to disguise his 
voice as much as possible. The blind man tries to guess who 
makes the noise, and if right they exchange places. In either 
case the circling about goes <>n as before. 

Players may disguise their height by bending the knees 
standing on tip toe, or in other way-. 

School children and adults of all ages may unite in playing 
this game. 

French Blind Man's Buff. — This is like the preceding game 
except that instead of using a cane, etc., the blind man points 
to some one and asks questions which the one pointed at must 



Plays and Games for Schools. 3 

answer. If he guesses correctly who answers they exchange 
places. If he points to a space between players or does not 
name the right person the game proceeds as before. 



BALL GAMES. 

Base Ball. 

Practically every community has one or more baseball teams, 
so that the game needs no emphasis or explanation in these 
pages. It sometimes happens that it monopolizes the atten- 
tion of the school to such an extent as to divide the pupils 
into two classes — players and onlookers. Now, there isn't a 
great deal of exercise in simply looking at others exericising. 
The teacher should endeavor to have all the pupils playing 
games. 

Base Ball Throw. 

Playground. 2 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Baseball; a fifty foot tape line or a long pole marked off in 
feet, for measuring the distance of the throw. 

This is a contest to decide who can throw a base ball the 
farthest. The throw is made from back of a scratch line or 
other mark on the ground. The thrower must not step in 
front of the line. He may be given three trials. The dis- 
tance is measured from the scratch to where the ball falls; 
rolling is not takeu into account. Girls are especially inter- 
ested in this game. 

To save time in measuring, lines at known distances near 
where the ball is likely to fall may be marked off and the 
measuring done from them. On field days when many peo- 
ple are likely to gather, a space should be roped off to give 
the throwers a chance and to prevent any one from being hit 
by the ball. 

Basket Ball. 

"How to Play Basket Ball" and "Spalding's Official Bas- 
ket Ball Guide,"' published by the Americal Sports Publishing 
Co., New York (each 10c) are suggested as sources of inform a- 



4 Plays and Games for Schools. 

lion on this game for schools which desire to introduce it. 
Out-doors courts are much to be preferred. 



Batting the Ball. 

Playground. 3 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 

Boys. 
Base ball. 

One player bats the ball to the other players who are 
racing him. "Whoever catches a fly or stops three grounders 
takes the bat, "Fungo" is a name applied by some to this 
game. 

Captain Ball. 

Playground. 20 players (more or less). Upper Form. Boys 

or Girls (separately). 
Basket ball. 

The description of this game here given is on a basis of 
twenty players, ten on a side ; but as few as twelve or even 
six players (also more than twenty players) may play the 
game. 

For twenty players the field should be fifty to sixty feet 
long and about half as w r ide. It should be divided by a line 
midway, thus making two half fields which are approximately 
squares. Near the corners of each half field are circles about 
three feet in diameter, and in the center of each half field is 
a circle somewhat larger. These circles we shall refer to as 
bases. 

In the central base of each side is a captain (A and B) ; in 
each of the other bases is a baseman (a and b). There is a 
guard for each base (a' and b')- The two captains are first 
selected and they select alternately the other players. In the 
diagram the players on one side are designated by A, a, and 
a 1 ; A is the captain of the A side. The players on the other 
side are designated by B, b, and b\ B is the captain of the B 
side. It will be noted that the guards of one side are assigned 
to the basemen of the other side. 

To start the game the two guards of the central bases stand 
astride the central dividing line ; the ball is thrown up between 
them and as it descends each guard tries to strike it into the 



Plays and Games fob Schools. 5 

territory of his side so that one of the basemen (not the cap- 
tain) on his side may get it. The object is to have a baseman 
get the ball to the captain ; this counts a point. It does not 
count to have the ball reach the captain in any way except 
from a baseman. The A guards try to get the ball and throw 
it to A basemen, who, as will be seen, are located on the other 
side of the central dividing line. A point is also made if the 
ball makes the circuit of the bases. If, for instance, the first 
baseman gets the ball and throws it to the second baseman, 
he to the third baseman and the third baseman to the fourth 
baseman, a point is scored. 



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Basemen may not step outside their circles. Guards may not 
step inside the circles. The ball must not be kicked. A player 
may not take any steps while he holds the ball. Guards may 
move about freely in trying to get or guard the ball, but they 
must not step over the dividing line. Any infringement of 
these rules constitutes a foul, and a foul by one side gives the 
ball to a baseman (not to the captain) of the other side. 

Angell in his book "Play," recommends that the game be 
played in two halves of five minutes each, or in four quarters 



6 Plays and Games for Schools. 

of five minutes each without any rest between. The guards in 
one quarter or half become the basemen in the next period. 
This distributes the activity more evenly among the players. 



Center Stride Ball. 

Playground. 8 to 16 players. Middle Form. 
Large soft ball. 

One player stands in the center and others form a ring 
around him by standing with their feet apart and with each 
foot touching the neighbor's foot. The player in the center 
tries to send the bail between the players' feet by batting it so 
it will roll along the ground. The players protect themselves 
by batting it back. If any player fails to do this, and so al- 
lows the ball to pass out between his feet or at his right side 
he must change places with the player in the center. The 
one in the center is allowed to make all sorts of feints. 

Dodge Ball. 

Playground. 10 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 

Boys or girls, separately. 
Basket ball; a clean grass plot on which to play the game. 

The players are divided into two equal groups. One group 
forms a circle (about 35 feet in diameter for girls and about 
15 feet in diameter for boys), the other group ^fhe dodgers) 
are scattered about within the circle. The circle players throw 
a basket ball at those inside the circle, who seek by dodging 
and running about to prevent being hit. A player who is 
hit joins the circle. This continues until all have been hit. 
The original circle players and the dodgers now exchange 
places and the game goes on as before. 

The dodgers do not try to hit the circle players with the ball, 
but simply pass it back to them, or the circle players may go 
inside the circle and get the ball after a throw. Dodgers must 
be hit by the ball on the fly. After striking the ground the 
ball is "dead." The game may be made competitive by see- 
ing which team can strike the other side out in the shortest 
lime. In this case the dodgers who are struck are out of the 
game. 



Plays and Games fob Schools. 7 

Suggestion. — If it is found that injuries are sustained by some 
who are hit, the rule should be made that the ball must hit 
players below the knee. 

Variation. — The players are sent into the ring in groups of 
five. The winners form a new group and enter the ring to 
determine who of all the players lasts the longest. 

Horse and Rider. 

Playground. 6 or more players. Upper Form. Boys. 
Basket ball (or bean bag). 

Half the boys (the riders) sit on the shoulders of the other 
boys (the horses). The riders throw a basket ball from one 
to the other. Whenever the ball drops to the ground the 
riders must quickly dismount and run. As soon as a horse 
gets the ball he calls out "Halt!" The riders must then re- 
main standing. The horse having the ball now throws it at 
a rider, who may dodge about but may not move his feet. If 
a rider is hit by the ball, the horses become riders and the 
riders horses If not, the game goes on without change as to 
horses and riders. 

Indoor Baseball, 

This is a form of baseball well suited to the needs of women. 
It should be played by high school girls especially. Although 
supposedly an indoor game, the greatest benefit will be derived 
from it when it is played outdoors. For the outdoor game a 
larger diamond should be used and the smallest ball allowed by 
the regulations. Schools desiring to try this game are referred 
to Spalding's Official Indoor Base Ball Guide. See List of Books 
page . . 

Long Ball. 

Playground. 12 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 

Boys. 
Soft ball. 

Mark off as in base ball a pitcher's plate, a home plate, and 
a first base to be known as the "long base." The long base 
should be forty or fifty feet from the home plate, 



8 Plays axd Games for Schools. 

The number of players on each side may be the same as in 
base ball or fewer or more as may be convenient. Two of the 
players on the side not at bat act as pitcher and catcher, the 
rest as fielders, and they occupy positions as in base ball. 

When a batter has hit the ball (all hits are fair) or has had 
three strikes, he runs to "long base." He is out when hit by 
a thrown ball or tagged with the ball between bases and when 
a fly is caught. A score is made when a batter returns to the 
home plate without having been put out. Any number of 
players may be at "long base" at a time. A side is out when 
three men are out or when, all being at "long base," or out, 
there is no one left to bat. 

A soft ball should be used for this game, so that no one will 
be hurt Avhen hit. 

One Old Cat. 

Playground. 4 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 

Girls. 
Soft ball. 

This is a ball game suitable for girls. It should be played 
with a soft ball. There is a batter, a pitcher, a catcher, and any 
number of fielders. There is no running of bases. The first 
one who calls out "My first bat" is batter, and so with 
"pitcher," "catcher," "first fielder," "second fielder," and 
so on. The batter is out when a fly is caught, when a foul is 
caught on the fly or first bound, and when a third strike is 
caught. The batter is entitled to three strikes more, if a third 
strike is not caught (muffed). When a striker is out the catcher 
becomes batter, the pitcher becomes catcher, the first fielder be- 
comes pitcher, the second fielder becomes first fielder, and so on. 
The batter who goes out becomes the last fielder. 

Note. — This game may be varied by having the batter run to 
a given base and back to the home plate when she strikes a fair 
ball. In making this run the batter is out if the pitcher or 
catcher or some other player reaches the home plate with the 
ball before she does. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 9 

Pass Ball. 

Playground. 12 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Two basket balls or other soft balls. Bean bags may answer. 

The players stand in a circle and count off by twos ; that is, 
every other player gets the number 1 and every other player, 
the number 2. A number 1 and a number 2 who are directly 
opposite in the circle have each a ball. At a signal the balls 
are passed around the circle, in the same direction, the number 
l's throwing to the number l's in succession, the number 2's 
throwing in like manner to the number 2's. Each side tries to 
pass its ball so rapidly as to make it overtake the other ball. The 
game is won by the side which succeeds in doing this. 

School Ball. 

Playground. 4 or more players. All Forms. Girls. 
Baseball or other hand ball. 

One player throws the ball to the other players in turn, the 
ball being in each case returned to her. 

Variations. — The ball must be returned with the same throw 
as the player in the center uses. Another variation consists in 
having the players arranged in a circle and at some distance 
apart, the ball being thrown from one to the other so as to pass 
around the circle. 

"Teacher". — The one who throws the ball in turn to the rest 
is known in this variation of the game as ' ' teacher. ' ' If any one 
in the line fails to catch the ball, he goes to the foot of the line 
and No. 1 becomes "teacher." Should the one at the foot fail 
to catch the ball he must stand on one foot till the ball has passed 
once down the line. A bean bag may be used instead of a ball. 

Volley Ball. 

Playground. 2 or more players. Upper Form (Girls espe- 
cially). 

Volley ball or a similar soft ball that can be batted with the 

palm of the hand ; a net about two feet wide and six or 

seven yards long (a strip of canvas or cheesecloth will 

answer) . 

A fairly level space forty to fifty feet long and about twenty 

feet wide is marked off on the playground. Across the middle 



10 Plays and Games for Schools. 

of this space a net or strip of canvas or cheesecloth is stretched 
so that the upper edge is from six to seven feet above the 
ground. 

Two sides of an equal number of players are chosen. The 
players of one group are distributed over the space on one 
side of the net and their opponents in the opposite space. A 
player on the serving side (the side which has the ball) stands 
with one foot on the rear line of the court, tosses the ball up 
with one hand and as it comes down, bats it with the other hand 
toward the opponents' court. If the ball does not pass over 
the net without touching it, or if it falls outside the opponents' 
court, the receiving side scores one point. If the server suc- 
ceeds in batting the ball over the net, it must be returned by 
batting it with the palm of the hand. Failure to do this scores 
a point for the serving side. If the ball is properly returned 
it must be batted back to the receiving side before touching 
Hie ground, and if this effort is successful it must be batted 
back to the serving side before it touches the ground. Thus 
the ball is volleyed back and forth across the net till one side 
or the other fails to properly return it. Any failure in this 
respect by one side scores a point for the other side. If a 
player touches the net the other side scores a point. A miss 
on the part of the serving side uives the ball to the other side, 
which then becomes the serving side. The players on each 
side serve in turn. The ball may be hit by more than one 
player on a side in returning it. but no player may hit it more 
than once until it has been returned. 

The game is won by the side which scores the most points 
in a given time ; or. if preferred, by the side which first makes 
a certain number of points previously agreed upon. 

Note: A description of a more elaborate form of this game 
will be found in "Games for the Playground, Home, School, 
and Gymnasium, pages 413-416. 

Variation. Allow the server two "services," as in tennis. 
Only the serving side scores. 

Bar Pull. 

Playground or schoolroom. 2 players. Upper Form. Boys. 
Broom handle or similar stick. 

Two players are seated on the ground with the soles of the 



Plays and Games for Schools. 11 

feet of one of them touching the soles of the feet of the other. 
Their legs and arms are extended and they grip a broom 
handle or other smooth stout stick. Each one now pulls, try- 
ing to pull the other to a standing position. The player who 
succeeds in doing so wins. 

BEAN BAG GAMES. 

Bean Bag Board. 

Playground or schoolroom. 2 or more players. Middle and 

Upper Forms. 
A frame of boards as described below ; 5 bean bags. 

The game consists in tossing bean bags through holes in an 
inclined board frame. The frame should be about 2 feet wide 
by 2 x /2 feet high. In the center there should be a hole about 
5y 2 inches in diameter; near each of the lower corners, a hole 
about 7 inches in diameter; near each of the upper corners, 
about 6 inches in diameter. The frame may be slanted by rest- 
ing the upper end against a tree or other support. 

Throwing a bag through the center hole counts 25 ; through 
either of the upper holes, 15 ; through either of the lower holes, 
10. The players take turns in throwing the bags till each one 
has thrown all of them five times. The one who makes the larg- 
est score wins the game. 

Bean Bag Contest. 

Playground or schoolroom. 10 or more players. All Forms. 
24 bean bags. 

Two leaders select followers who stand in line at the right or 
left, the two lines and leaders facing each other. Next to each 
leader is a pile of twelve bean bags; at the other end of each line 
is a basket, box, or other receptacle, or simply a space marked 
off. 

At a signal the leaders pick up one bag at a time and hand it 
to the nearest followers who pass it along from one to the other 
and the player at the end of the line places it in the receptacle 
or marked space. "When all the bags have thus been disposed 
of by either side, they are lifted up one at a time by the end 
player and passed back by each player to his next neighbor until 



12 Plays and Games for Schools. 

all have been dropped into the original pile. The side which 
first accomplishes this result wins. Variety may be secured by 
requiring that the bags be passed in some particular way. 

Bean Bag Race. 

Schoolroom. 20 or more players. All Forms. 

Ihe pupils in adjacent rows of seats sit facing each other, so 
that those in rows 1 and 2 face each other, likewise those in rows 
3 and 4. The number of pupils is to be equal in the two 
groups. A leader (the teacher or an older pupil) stands at the 
head between the two groups. The first pupil in each group 
passes a bean bag to the one facing him, the latter passes the bag 
to the player diagonally across the aisle from him, and so the 
bag passes zigzag down each of the two aisles. When it reaches 
the last pupil at the b:ick of the room it is passed forward in the 
same way. When it reaches the player who started the bag, he 
tosses it to the leader. The object is to see which side can first 
get the bag to the leader. 

If only two rows of pupils are present the game may be played 
by passing the bag down each row and back again, the pupils 
handing it over their shoulders as it passes down the row and 
receiving it over their shoulders as it is passed forward. This 
may be varied by directing each player to use the right hand 
and pass the bag over the left shoulder, or vice versa, the row 
not following directions to be penalized. 



Miscellaneous Games in Which Bean Bags May Be Used. 

Among the games in which bean bags may be used in place of 
balls or other objects usually made use of are the following: 
Basket Ball Relay 
Duck on a Rock 
Horse and Rider 
Pass Ball 
Potato Race 
Rolling Target 
School Ball 



Plays and Games for Schools. 13 



Bear in the Pit.* 

Playground. 8 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Boys or girls (separately). 
Players join hands in a circle with one player in the center 
(the bear). The bear tries to get out of the circle (the pit) by 
breaking apart the clasped hands or by going over or under them. 
By the use of strategem, such as appearing to try to break 
through in one place and suddenly turning about and trying 
another place, his chances of escape are increased and interest 
is added to the game. "When the bear gets out of the pit the 
other players all take after him and the one who catches him 
becomes the next bear. 



Bird Catcher. 

Schoolroom or pla} T ground. About 6 to 12 players. All Forms. 
The children sit or stand in a circle, with a "catcher" in the 
middle. Each child is given the name of some bird. The leader 
tells a story orally, or reads it, which occasionally brings in the 
name of a bird. At the mention of a bird the player assigned 
its name quickly raises his hands and brings them down again. 
"When the owl is mentioned (no one is given this name) all place 
hands behind the back and hold them there until another bird is 
mentioned. The catcher tries to seize a hand whenever it is 
moved. A player whose hand is caught or who does the wrong 
thing must change places with the catcher. 

Bird Sale. 

Playground. 6 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
A buyer and a seller are selected. The buyer should be a 
good runner. The remaining players are given names of birds 
by the seller, the names being given out of hearing of the buyer. 
When names have been given the buyer approaches and asks 
the seller if he has any birds to sell. The seller says he has a 
number for sale, but that his birds are very wild and that 



*This is a modification of the well known game of "Cull in the Ring," or 
'Bull in the Pen." 



14 Plays and Games for Schools. 

they will have to be caught. The buyer then names birds 
which he wants to bu}^. As soon as he gives a name assigned 
to a player, the latter starts to run, and the buyer tries to 
catch him. If he succeeds, the "bird" is out of the game. If 
the buyer cannot catch a bird, he goes back and starts an- 
other bird and so keeps on until all the birds are caught or at 
least started. Tagging a bird is equivalent to catching. 

When all the birds have been chased, the game begins over 
again. The player who is deemed to have made the best run 
becomes buyer, and any one agreed upon becomes seller. 

A variation of the game may be made by having some or all 
of the birds caught become assistant catchers. 

Another variation might be made by marking a "bird 
preserve" of a certain space at a distance from the starting 
place, birds reaching this space untagged to be exempt from 
being caught, so long as they remain within the prescribed 
space. 

Black and White; or, Day and Night. 

Playground. 11 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Disc, black on one side and white on the other side. 

Two players select other players alternately. The two sides 
thus chosen should be equal in number and as nearly equal in 
running ability as possible. They are called Blacks and 
Whites. 

The sides stand facing each other midway between two goals. 

A disc black on one side and white on the other is tossed up 
between the sides by the leader. If the disc falls so that the 
black side is uppermost the Blacks run for their goal, the 
Whites running after them to tag them. Any one tagged be- 
fore reaching the goal is out of the game. Similarly, if the 
white side of the disc is uppermost the Whites chase the 
Blacks. That side wins which succeeds in putting out all 
those on the other side. 

Variation. — By laughing and doing laughable "stunts" the 
learn whose side of the disc comes uppermost tries to make 
players on the other side laugh or smile. Any one thus made 
to laugh or smile is out. Care should be taken that the players 
do not cross the line between the sides. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 15 



Blackboard Relay. 

.Schoolroom. 8 or more players. Any or all Forms. 

Each row of seats, in which an equal number of children are 
seated, is given a number on the blackboard directly in front 
of it. At a signal the pupil farthest back in each row runs 
forward, seizes a piece of crayon, and writes the number 1 on 
the board in the space assigned to his row; that is, the back- 
most pupil in the first row writes the number in space 1, the 
backmost pupil in the second row writes the number in space 
2, and so on. When the players return those seated next in 
front of them run forward and write the number 2; when they 
return, those in front of them run forward and write the num- 
ber 3. This continues till all the pupils in each row have writ- 
ten numbers on the board and have returned to their seats. A 
pupil can not run forward till the one preceding him passes 
him on his return. The row wins whose last player first re- 
turns to his seat. 

This game can be greatly varied with respect to what is 
written on the blackboard. The players may be required to 
write the names of cities, rivers, mountains, or other geographi- 
cal features ; the names of battles, statesmen, generals, or other 
names in his Lory. Each pupil may be required to write his 
own name. Other variations may easily be invented by the 
teacher. 

Variation. — See "Automobile Race" in Bancroft's "Games 
for the Playground, Home, School, and Gymnasium," page 48. 



"Buzz." 

Schoolroom. 6 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 

The first player says "One." the next "Two," and so on, until 
the number seven is reached, when "Buzz" is substituted for it. 
The counting goes on, "Buzz" being substituted for every multi- 
ple of seven. The word "Buzz" is also substituted for "Seven" 
in any number; that is, "Buzzteen," "Twenty-buzz," "Thirty- 
buzz," and so on, are used instead of "Seventeen," "Twenty- 
seven," "Thirty-seven," etc. "Seventy" becomes "Buzzty, " 



16 Plays and Games for Schools. 

" Seventy-one, " "Buzzty-one, " etc. "Seventy-seven*' becomes 
"Buzzty-buzz." 

When a player misse, be drops from the game. A miss con- 
sists in saying a number instead of "Buzz"' or in saying "Buzz" 
in the wrong place. The game proceeds till all but one have 
dropped out, the one remaining being the winner. 

Variations of this game may be made by saying "Quack" in- 
stead of "Three" or its multiples; by saying "Fizz" instead of 
"Five" or its multiples; or by saying "Cockadoodledoo" instead 
of "Eleven" or its multiples. 

Cat and Mouse. 

Playground. 12 or more players. Any Form. 

One player, the mouse, is inside a circle of players; another 
player, the cat, is outside the circle. The cat seeks to catch the 
mouse. The circle helps the mouse pass in and out and hinders 
the cat as much as possible by holding the hands tightly clasped. 
When the cat catches the mouse or gives it up he becomes the 
mouse and the mouse replaced joins the circle. A new cat is 
chosen from the circle. 

Chicken Market. 

Playground or Schoolroom. 5 or more players. All Forms. 
Boys. 
Two of the players are buyer and seder; the rest are chickens. 
The chickens stoop down in a row with hands clasped under the 
knees. The buyer says to the seller. "Have you any chickens 
for sale?" The seller says. "Yes, plenty of them. Will you 
walk around and try them?" The buyer uow tries different 
chickens by laying his clasped hands, palm downward on the 
head and pressing inward. He pretends to find fault with some 
of the chickens, saying, "This one is too old," "This one is too 
fat," "This one is too tough," etc. When a chicken is found 
that is satisfactory, the buyer and seller grasp his arm one on 
either side and swing him back and forth, the chicken still re- 
maining in a stooping position with bands clasped under the 
knees. If he stands this test, the buyer leads him away to a 
place selected as the coup. The sale goes on till all the chickens 



Plays and Games for Schools. 17 

are sold. Any chicken that smiles or does not stand the swing- 
ing test must pay a forfeit to be redeemed at the conclusion of 
the sale. In case there are many players there should be two 
or more buyers and sellers. 

Chinning the Bar (Pull up) 

Playground. Any number of players. Upper Form. Boys. 
Horizontal bar. A horizontal limb of a tree of proper size and 
height will answer the purpose. 

The bar is to be grasped and the body pulled up so that the 
chin is over the bar; the body then sinks till the arms and legs 
are extended, the feet not touching the ground. This is to be 
repeated as often as the child's strength will permit without 
over-exertion. 

Elementary school boys under thirteen ought to practice till 
they can chin the bar at least four times ; elementary school boys 
thirteen or over, six times; high school boys, nine times. 

Coasting. 

Where the facilities for coasting are at hand and it can be 
enjoyed with a minimum of danger to the children this form 
of amusement is to be encouraged by the teacher and, what is 
just as much to the point, be supervised by him. 

It would not be out of place for the school to provide as a part 
of the play equipment a good-sized, strongly constructed "bob." 
Various unobjectionable expedients may be used to raise the 
purchase money, such as an entertainment, a basket social, etc. 

Coasting is treated in a number of books on the Township 
Library List, and what the school library contains on the sub- 
ject may be found in the card catalog under the head "Coast- 
ing." 

Come with Me. 

Playground. 10 or more players. All Forms. 

The children stand in a circle, while one of them passeg around 
the circle, touches some one on the back, and says, ' ' Come with 
me." These two now run around the circle in opposite direc- 



J8 I'layS and GamEs for Schools. 

tions; when they meet, they take hold of hand^ swing around 
once and then pass on, each one trying to get to the vacant 
place first. The one who fails is "It." 

Variations. — When they meet, shake hands or how three 
times, saying each time, "How do you do?" or, shake hands 
back to back ; or, hop three times ; or, whistle three times, etc., 
etc. 

Duck on a Rock. 

Playground. 5 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Stones (or bean bags) for throwing; rock (or stake) for the 
"duck." 

A rock of convenient size is placed at one end of the playing 
space. Each player is provided with a smooth stone for throw- 
ing. At a distance of twenty-five feet, more or less, depending 
on the size of the players, a line is drawn behind which the play- 
ers are ranged. They throw at the rock; the one whose missile 
comes to rest farthest from the rock, becomes the first guard. 

The guard places his stone (the duck) ou top of the rock and 
stands to one side. The players now throw their stones at the 
duck, trying to dislodge it from the rock. In trying to recover 
the stones they are liable to be tagged by the guard before they 
get back to their goal. A player tagged becomes the guard. 
But the guard may not tag any one till be lias replaced the duck 
on the rock, should it have been displaced. If a thrower, in try- 
ing to recover his stone, leaves it on the ground where it first 
fell and places one foot on it, he cannot be tagged until he re- 
moves his foot. When he once lifts the stone, however, he can- 
not again place it on the ground to escape being tagged. 

Note. — It would perhaps be as well to use bean bags instead 
of stones and a flat-topped stake driven in the ground instead of 
a rock. 

"Fly Away." 

Schoolroom or playground. 5 or more players. Lower Form. 
The children are seated with their hands in their laps. When 
"It" says, at the same time raising bis hands, "Fly away, mos- 
quito," or "Fly away, bat," or "Fly away, robin," or "Fly 



Plays and Games for Schools. 10 

away," followed by the name of any oilier animal that flies, the 
rest of the players are to raise their hands. When he says, "Fly 
away," followed by the name of some animal that does not fly, 
the players are not to raise their hands, although the leader 
raises his. Any one making a miss either by not raising his 
hands at the right time or by raising the hands at the wrong time 
becomes "It." 

Variation. — Those who perform the wrong act are out of the 
game. The winner is the one who remains after all the rest 
are out. 



Follow the Leader. 

Playground or schoolroom. 10 or more players. All Forms. 

A leader is chosen who takes his place at the head of a line 
of players. He walks about at the same time going through 
various motions. The rest of the players must follow him and 
imitate all his actions. 

Two lines may be formed and a contest take place as to 
which gives the better exhibition, the teacher or some one else 
agreed uppn acting as judge. 



Fox and Gander. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Middle and Upper Form*. 
Boys or girls separately. 
A player is chosen to be the fox. Another player, the gander, 
heads a line of players, the geese, who stand behind him, each 
one with his hands on the shoulders or about the waist of the 
player immediately in front of him. 

The fox shouts, "Geese, geese, gannio!" 
The geese shout back, "Fox, Fox, fannio!" 
The fox then says, "How many geese have you today?" 
The gander replies, "More than you can take away." 
The fox then tries to tag the last goose in the line ; the 
gander, with hands outspread, and the line of geese by bend- 
ing the line hither and thither try to prevent it. When the 
goose at the end of the line is tagged (no other goose may be 
tagged) he becomes fox and the fox becomes gander. 



20 Plays and Games for Schools. 



Fox and Geese. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
Snow. 

A circle thirty to forty feet in diameter is tramped in the 
snow. Inside of this circle and at about one-third the distance 
from it to the center another circle is formed. Straight paths 
ending in the outer circle are made through the center. Where 
the "spokes" thus formed touch the outer rim small circular 
dens are marked off for the foxes. At the center (where the 
"spokes" meet) is the goal of the hunter. 

For eight players there should he three such paths; for ten 
players there should be four; that is, there should be two play- 
ers more than the number of dens. 

At the beginning of the game the foxes are stationed each 
in his den, with the exception of an odd fox, who gets a den 
as best he can. The foxes keep running from den to den, the 
hunter tries to tag them, and the odd fox tries to get a den. 
If a fox is tagged by the hunter, they exchange places. 

A fox may run on any path in any direction, but he may not 
turn back when he has once started ; and he must wait till he 
comes to an intersection before changing his course. The 
hunter and the foxes must keep to the paths marked out. A 
fox may not be tagged when in a den. Only one fox at a time 
can occupy a den 



Hide and Seek, or I Spy. 

This game is too well known to require a complete descrip- 
tion here. As usually played, "It" is chosen by some count- 
ing out rhyme; he then "blinds" at the goal and counts loudly 
to some number agreed upon (usually one hundred), while 
the rest of the players hide. When he discovers a player he 

runs to the goal and cries, "One, two, three for . " 

A hider who gets to the goal before "It" and calls out, "One, 
two, three, for me!" is safe. The first one caught is "It" for 
the next game. 

Yards Off. — A variation consists in having (in addition to 
"It") a stick-thrower chosen who stands at the goal and 
throws a stick as far as he can. As soon as the stick touches 



Plays and Games for Schools. 2T 

the ground, "It" walks (running is forbidden) to where the 
stick fell and returns with it to the goal; in the meantime the 
rest of the players are hiding. Not until Hie stick has been 
returned to the goal and stood up against it can "It'' begin 
looking for the hiders. 



Imitation. 

Schoolroom or playground. 5 or more players. All Forms. 

A leader is chosen and the rest of the players stand facing 
him. The leader goes through various motions, such as split- 
ting wood, sawing wood, washing clothes, wringing clothes, 
hopping, jumping, etc., saying with each kind of action, "Do 
this!" or "Do that!" "When he says. "Do this!" the rest of 
the players are to imitate him; when he says "Do that!" they 
are not to do so. Any player who imitates the action at the 
wrong time or fails to do so at the right time is out of the 
game. The game continues till only one player and the leader 
remain. The player remaining becomes the next leader. 



In and Out the Window. 

Playground. 12 or more players. Middle and Lower Forms. 
All but two of the players join hands in a circle. One of 
the two players is inside the circle and the other outside. The 
player outside the circle is to catch the one inside. The latter 
goes in and out under the arms of those forming the circle and 
the chaser must follow in the exact course of the one pursued. 
When the pursuit has been successful, each of the two players 
names his successor and joins the circle. 



JUMPING. 

Playground. 2 or more players. I T pper and Middle Forms. 
Boys. 
For jumping purposes it will be necessary to spade up a 
small area, or in some other way to provide a proper place on 
which to light, in order to prevent excessive jarring. 



22 Plays and Games for Schools. 

Among the forms of jumping suitable for pupils in in ele 
mentary schools are: standing broad jump; running broad 
jump; hop, step, and jump; standing high jump; and running 
high jump. 

As in the case of many other individual games, competition 
in jumping should be by groups as well as by individuals. 

In high jumping, apparatus such as that described on page . . 
should be used, so as to accurately measure the height of the 
jump and to prevent tripping by the horizontal strip over 
which the jump is made. 



Running Broad Jump. 

Playground. 2 or more players. Upper Form. Boys. 

A line is drawn on the ground which is to be toed in jump- 
ing. Some distance back of this line a starting line parallel to 
it is drawn. The players, one at a time, run from the starting 
line, reach the jumping line, toe it and then jump. The dis- 
tance jumped is measured from the jumping line perpendicu- 
larly to the nearest heel print. 

Team contests will add to the interest and value of this 
event. Two leaders choose alternately an equal number of 
players. The total distance jumped by each team is divided 
by the number of players in the team; the quotient gives the 
average distance for the team. 



Running High Jump. 

Playground. 2 or more players. Upper Form. Boys, 
-lump standards and cross-bar. See description, page 57. 

The preliminary run and mode of jumping should be for 
cadi individual such as he finds enables him to make the best 
possible showing. Start with the cross-piece so low that all 
the contestants can easily clear it. Gradually raise it, and 



*A firm post joist or plank two or more inches thick and eight or ten inches 
svide set flush with the ground makes a better "take off" and a more accurate 
"scratch line." The jumper must not mark the ground in front of the "take 
off." Measure from the fropt edge of the plank. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 23 

when a player fails to clear lie is to be eliminated from the 
game. When only one remains the greatest height at which 
he can clear the cross-piece should be determined. 

The standard for high schools set by the New V *rk Public 
Schools Athletic league is 4 feet, 4 inch* 3 ". 



Shuttle Jumping. 

Playground. 6 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Two leaders select alternately an equal number of players, 
making side A and side B. They line up on opposite sides 
of a scratch line and jump alternately in opposite directions. 
The first A does the standing broad jump from the scratch 
line ; the first B, toeing the heel mark nearest the scratch line, 
jumps toward the scratch line; the second A jumps from 
where B lands, but in the opposite direction; the second B 
jumps in the opposite direction from where the second A 
lands. Thus the players on the opposing sides jump alter- 
nately in opposite directions until all have jumped. If the 
last B clears the scratch line, the B's win, otherwise the A's 
win. 



Standing Broad Jump. 

Playround. 2 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Boys. 

The player stands toeing the scratch line or front edge of 
the plank used as a "take off." The distance jumped is 
measured from this line perpendicularly to the nearest heel 
print. 

The standard set by the New York Public Schools Athletic 
League for elementary school boys under 13 is 5 feet 9 inches ; 
for all other elementary school boys, 6 ft. 6 in. ; standard o f 
Racine County Athletic meet, for boys under thirteen, 5 f t. 
8 in. 



24 Plays and Games for Schools. 



Standing- Hop, Step, and Jump. 

Playground. 2 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
Boys. 

The player stands on one foot, toeing the scratch line, takes 
a hop and lands on the same foot ; he then .hops and lands on 
the other foot, hops again and lands on both feet. Each one 
is allowed two trials in succession. 

Competition by groups will add to the interest and value 
of the game. The average distance covered by the players in 
a group determines the winning group. 



Jumping Rope. 

Playground. One or more players. All Forms. Girls mainly. 

Little encouragement is needed to bring about the playing 
of this game. The danger of over-exertion is to be guarded 
against, especially by pupils from seven to nine years of age, 
when the heart action is likely to be comparatively weak. 

Jumping in relays by groups pitted against each other will 
add interest, will prevent undue exertion, and will give oppor- 
tunity of play to the less skillful ones. If there are two 
groups of an equal number of players and each player is given 
a certain number of trials, the group wins which in one round 
makes the greater number of jumps. 

Descriptions of many forms of rope jumping will be found 
in Bancroft's "Games for the Playground, Home, School, and 
Gymnasium," pages 118-122. 

Kaleidoscope. 

Schoolroom or Playground. 8 or more players. Middle and 
Upper Forms. 
Four or more of the players stand in front of the rest, who are 
seated. Each player who is standing is given the name of some 
city so that those who are seated may know what city each one 
represents. Those seated close their eyes or, better, turn 
about and look the other way. The ones standing then rear- 



Plays and Games for Schools. 25 

range their line so that cadi player lias a new position. Those 
seated now open their eyes and (one at a time) are asked to 
name what city each one represents. This will serve as a test 
of observation and memory. 

Instead of names of cities, the names of countries, lakes, rivers, 
or other names in geography may he used. Names in history, 
names of authors, titles of hooks, names of birds, and of other 
objects in nature study or other branches are also available. 
However, only one class of names should he used at a time. 



Last Couple Out. 

Playground. 9 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 

Players form in couples. The couples stand one behind the 
other and face in the same direction. An odd player (the 
catcher) stands ten feet or more ahead of the first couple and 
faces in the same direction as the couples. The catcher cries, 
"Last couple cut!" and at this signal the couple farthest back 
run forward, the one at the right on the right-hand side and the 
one at the left on the left-hand side of the file of couples. It 
is their object to clasp hands in front of the catcher before the 
latter can tag either of them. The catcher may not look around 
after he gives the signal for the couple to run and he must wait 
till a player is abreast of him before giving chase. 

If one member of the couple is tagged by the catcher, he joins 
the latter to form a couple and the one not tagged becomes the 
catcher. The new couple takes its place at the head of the line, 
which moves backward one space to make room for it. If the 
members of the last couple out succeed in joining hands before 
either one is tagged, they take up a position at the head of the 
line or are free (out of the game) as may beforehand be de- 
cided upon. 



Leapfrog. 

Playground. 5 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
Boys. 
This well known game is good for occasional use. Its descrip- 
tion here is unnecessary. Interest may be increased by forming 
two lines of backs, the contest being to determine in which line 



26 Plan's and Games for Schools. 

the last player first leaps over all the rest, the other players hav- 
ing previously leaped in succession. 

Foot and a Half. — One is •'It": he makes a "buck'' at the 
scratch line. One is "leader"; he jumps the buck as far as 
possible. The buck moves up to where the leader stands. The 
leader sets a stunt by requiring the others to clear the buck in 
a single jump from the scratch line, or by taking a hop or a step, 
or a foot, or a foot and a half from the scratch line before jump- 
ing. If any one fails, he becomes the buck, the former buck 
goes to the rear of the line, and the game begins over again. 
If any one, before he tries the stunt, challenges the leader, the 
latter must do the stunt or become buck. If he does the stunt, 
the challenger becomes buck. If all clear the buck, the leader 
does the stunt, the buck moves out to the leader's landing place, 
and a new stunt is set. "When the leader fails on any challenge, 
the next in line becomes leader. 



Magic Music. 

Schoolroom. 5 or more players. All Forms. 

Some article is hidden while a pupil is out of the room. Re- 
entering the roo,m he searches for it, being guided by 
music which becomes softer as he recedes from the article and 
louder as he approaches it. Organ, piano, or other instrument 
may be used ; or the pupils may sing a song. As a variation it 
may be stipulated that the article is to be found before the tune 
has been played a certain number of times or before the song has 
been sung through. 



Marbles. 

The playing of marbles seems to come about spontaneously 
at the beginning of spring. ("Whether the beginning is genuine 
or counterfeit seems to make no difference.) Descriptions of 
various forms of this game will be found in Champlin's Cyclo- 
pedia of Games and Sports. Of course, the playing "for keeps" 
should be prevented. This should be brought about so far as 
possible by voluntary decisions on the part of the pupils. 



Plays and (James for Schools. 27 

May-Pole Dance. 

tSeo frontispiece.) 

Playground. 16 girls, or 8 boys and 8 girls. Upper and .Middle 
Forms. 

The Courtesy — 

Right foot back. . 3 counts 

Bend back knee 3 counts 

Straighten back knee 3 counts 

To position 3 counts 

Same with left foot 12 counts 

Face pole; courtesy 12 counts; face opposites, courtesy 12 
counts, turning on the 10th, 11th, and 12th counts to face part- 
ners. Courtesy to partners, 12 counts. On 10th, 11th, and 12th 
face audience. Courtesy to audience, 12 counts. On 10th, 11th, 
and 12th counts step to side. Those holding red streamers step 
inside, with left arm toward pole. Those with white streamers 
step outside, with right arm toward pole. All sway ; place right 
foot to side (1), cross left iu front, touch toe (2), place left foot 
to side (3), cross right foot in front, touch toe (4), and repeat, 
12 counts. Pass partners. Go in and out as in "grand right 
and left" until the streamers are plaited down the pole. When 
wound sufficiently, hold through four counts. Courtesy, 12 
counts, to partners. On 10th, 11th, and 12th counts face oppo- 
sites. Courtesy 12 counts. Sway as before 12 counts, crossing 
the feet. Unweave the streamers. When back to place, cour- 
tesy, drop the streamers, and run gracefully from the scene. 

Modes of Travel. 

Playground. 5 or more players. All Forms. 

The players are ranged at one end of the playground and arc 
numbered from one up. When a player's number is called he 
crosses the grounds in any way he may choose. No player may 
employ the same mode of travel as any preceding player. After 
all have crossed the grounds the teacher, or other leader, or a 
committee previously selected, decides which one traveled in the 
most unique and interesting manner. 

Variation. — The players cross and re-cross the playing space, 
using each time different modes of travel. When a player can 
not travel in a new way, lie drops out of the game. The one who 
holds out longest wins. 



28 Plays and Games fur Schools. 



My Lady's Toilet. 

Schoolroom. 6 or more players. All Forms. 

The players are all seated except the Lady's maid. She as- 
signs to each the name of some article of wearing apparel suit- 
able to take along on a journey. The maid says, "My Lady is 
going on a journey and she wants her purse'. The purse rises, 
turns around twice, and sits down. Each player does the same 
when the article which she represents is named. When the maid 
says, "My lady wants her trunk," then all must change places, 
the maid in the meantime trying to get a seat. The player who 
fails to get a seat becomes the maid. If a player fails to rLe and 
turn around when the article which she represents is named, 
she must change places with the maid; this is also the result if 
a player gets up at the wrong time. 



Party Games. 

Schoolroom games may be chosen with reference to their avail- 
ability in parties i^iven at the homes of the pupils. Some of 
the games given herein can be used for this purpose. Others 
will be found in books on games which are included in the list 
of books given on page . . A few of the out-door games can 
be used at house parties, especially if suitably modified. 



Pom Pom Pull Away. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 

This game was much in vogue some years ago and is here de- 
scribed with the hope that interest in it may be revived. It is a 
capital game to develop ability in running and dodging; and, 
like all such games, is of great value in the development of the 
vital organs. 

Parallel lines are drawn at opposite ends of the playground. 
Midway between these lines "It" is stationed and behind one 
of the lines are the rest of the players. "It" calls out, 
"Pom pom pull away. 
If you don't come I'll fetch you away." 



Plays and Games for Schools. 29 

The players then run across the playground and "It" tries 
to tag them before they reach the opposite goal. Any one tagged 
must join "It" and help to tag those remaining. The game con- 
tinues till all have been tagged. The first one tagged or the last 
one tagged, as may be agreed upon, becomes "It" for the next 
game. 

Black Tom. — "It" calls out, "Black Tom!" three times, upon 
which the players run for the opposite goal. "It" may cry 
"Yellow Tom!" "Ked Tom!" "Black Tim!" or anything else 
suggested by the true signal, and a player who starts running 
at a false signal, or who starts before "Black Tom!" is repeated 
three times in succession, must join "It" and help him chase the 
others. 

Chinese Wall. — In the center of the playground two parallel 
lines are drawn about ten feet apart. The space between these 
lines is the wall. A defender is chosen who takes his place 
on the wall. When he cries, "I dare you to cross my wall!" 
the rest of the players, who are stationed as in Pom Pom Pull 
Away, start for the line at the opposite end of the playground. 
The defender tries to tag them as they cross the wall, but he may 
not step off the wall. Any one tagged must join the defender 
and help him tag the others. 

Hill Dill. — This is played like Pom Pom Pull Away, except 
that the signal is ' ' Hill Dill, come over my hill ! " A variation 
consists in having "It" and others who join him stand at one 
goal line when giving the challenge to the players behind the 
opposite goal line. 

Variation. — In all these forms of Pom Pom Pull Away varia- 
tion may be introduced by requiring that "It" and all thost 
tagged must join hands and not let go till all are tagged. 



Prince of Paris. 

Schoolroom. 8 or more players. All Forms. 

A leader is chosen, who stands before the rest of the players 
find says, "The Prince of Paris has lost his hat. Did you find 
it, Number three, sir?" Number Three is to jump to his feet 
and say, "What, sir? I, sir?" - The leader answers, "Yes, sir! 
you, sir." 



•SO Plays and Games for Schools. 

No. Three, "Not I, sir." 

Leader, "Who then, sir?" 

No. Three, "Number Five, sir." 

Number Five jumps up and say. 1 -, 

"What, sir? I sir," 

Leader, "Yes, sir! you sir." 

No. Five, "Not I, sir." 

Leader, "Who then, sir?" 

No. Five, "Number Two, sir." 
Number Two is to jump up immediately and say, "What, sir? 
I, sir?" The conversation then goes on as before. The leader 
tries to say, "The Prince of Paris has lost his hat" before the 
player whose number is called can jump up and say, "What, 
sir? I, sir?" If he succeeds the player in question must change 
places with him. Any one who fails to say "sir" in the proper 
place must change places with the leader. 

The game may be varied by having the players stand in a line 
and applying the rule that when a miss is made the player who 
misses must go to the foot of the line. In playing the game this 
way there is no exchange of places with the leader. The object 
of each one in the line is to be at the head when the game ends. 

Prisoners' Base. 

(One of the best of playground games.) 

Playground. 8 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 

Across both ends of the playground (preferably from fifty 
to sixty feet apart) lines are drawn back of which are the 
goals; these must be large enough to contain all the players of 
a side. At the right of each goal is the prison. 

As in most competitive school games, it is well to have a 
loader chosen for each side, these then choosing players alter- 
nately. 

The object of the players of each side is to tag players of 
the other side when they arc between the two goals. A player 
who is tagged must take his place in the opponents' prison. 
Of two opposing players, he who left his goal last may tag the 
other, and not vice versa. 

A prisoner may be free-i by being lagged while in prison 



Plays axd Games for Schools. 31 

by one of his own side. Neither prisoner nor rescuer may be 
tagged in returning to their goal.* A player in pursuit of an 
opponent is liable to be tagged by an opposing player who left 
his goal after the pursuer did, or if the one pursued reaches 
goal, he may immediately turn about and become the pursuer. 
This leads to some exciting situations. 

The game is. won by the side which succeeds in placing all 
its opponents in prison. Or, a time limit may be set, and then 
the side wins which has secured the most prisoners when the 
time is up. 



Puss in a Circle. 

Playground or Schoolroom. 10 or more players. Lower Form. 
All but one of the players take their places just outside a 
circle marked on the ground or floor. The remaining player 
(the puss) stands inside the circle. The circle players may be 
tagged by puss whenever they have a foot inside the circle^ 
Players who are tagged must help tag the remaining circle 
payers. The game is won by the player who is last to be 
tagged. The object of each of the circle players is to tantalize 
puss by having a foot inside the circle as much as possible 
without being tagged. 



Pussy Wants a Corner. 

Playground. 5 or more players. Lower and Middle Forms. 

This well-known game is especially suitable for the Lower 
Form and beginning Middle Form, but, at times, will be found 
to appeal to older pupils. Trees, stones, posts, corners of the 
house, circles marked on the ground, or other goals may be 
used as "corners." To enliven the game "It" may occa- 
sionally take up a position previously agreed upon and call 
out, "All change." The players must then all change places, 
thus giving "It" a better chance to get a "corner." 



♦According to some rules they are both liable to be tagged, but this is likely 
to complicate matters. 



32 Plays and Games for Schools. 

Quoits (Horse-Shoes). 

Playground. 2 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Iron rings (quoits) or horse shoes. 

It is needless to describe this well-known game. It may well 
be included among the games played on the school grounds. 
Interest may be awakened by having several groups play the 
game, the be-t players in the several groups being pitted against 
one another in inter-group competitions. 



Rabbit's Nest. 

Playground. 1-1 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 

All but two of the players form groups consisting of three 
or lour in a circle with bauds joined and with a player inside 
tin 1 circle. These groups are scattered over the playground. 
The circles are lmsls and the players inside the circles are 
rabbits. Of Hie two remaining players, one is a rabbit and 
the other the farmer's dog. The playground is an orchard 
and the rabbits have gnawed the bark on the trees till the 
farmer has decided to send bis dog to catch them. At a signal, 
the dog si ails in pursuit of the rabbit which has no nest. The 
rabbit thus pursued may, when be linds himself hard pressed, 
enter a "nest" (circle) and then the rabbit in that nest must 
leave it. This rabbil may in his turn enter a nest and displace 
.". rabbit. When the dog cat dies a rabbit, the rabbit becomes 
the dog and the dog the rabbit. 

In order that those forming the nests may also take part in 
the running, ii may, for instance, be stipulated that when a 
rabbil has been caught, the rabbil in each nest shall change 
places with one of the players forming the nest. 



RACES. 

Rehoolground, road, or neighboring field if available. 2 or 

more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 

Races provide a form of exercise that every school should 

make use of. From among the almost numberless kinds of 

races the ones given below are suggested as suitable for schools. 



Plays and G&mes for Schools. 33 

As a signal for starting, the sound of a rock dropped on a 
box, pan, or other object giving a loud enough sound will 
serve the purpose. 

Time may be kept fairly well by means of an ordinary watch 
provided with a second-hand. If the time of more than one 
racer is to be determined, there will need to be as many time 
keepers as the number of racers whose time is to be deter- 
mined. The teacher should aim to develop some degree of 
skill in time keeping on the part of the older pupils. 

Races can, of course, be run without determining the time, 
by simply noting the order in which the prescribed distance 
is run. However, the timing of the winners will add to the in- 
terest in the game. 

The accurate measuring of the distances should be done by 
the pupils and verified by the teacher. Permanent marks may 
then be put down. 

If a weight standard is used, the racers are to be weighed 
in the clothes in which they do the racing. 

Racing in Groups. — In order that even the slowest runner 
may take part in the races, it is well often to divide the pupils 
into two groups of fairly equal ability, and then pit the groups 
against each other. All of the players in each group are to 
run the prescribed distance one after the other. By dividing 
the time of the group by the number of players in the group 
the average time is determined. If both groups run at the 
same time the interest will be all the greater. For a suggestion 
as to method, see "Relay Race," page 39. 

Fancy Starts. — Participants in a race may occasionally be 
required to start from a lying posture, head to the starting 
line or any other position which will give a desirable variety 
to the game. 

Caution. — Care should be exercised to exclude children from 
racing events which are likely to prove detrimental to their 
health. 



31 Plays and Games for Schools. 



DASHES. 

Playground or road. 2 or more players. Upper Form. 



Forty-yard Dash. 

For girls "who are under 13. 

Be careful to exclude girls from this event who appear in 
any way to be injured by it. 



Fifty-yard Dash. 

This event is for boys under 13 and for girls over 13. Or, if 
a weight standard is set, all hoys may take part who weigh 
eighty pounds or h'ss. 

The championship record for this event in the Public Schools 
Athletic League of New York City for 1910, was 6 4-5 seconds. 

See caution under "Forty-yard Dash," above. 



Sixty-yard Dash. 

For boys in the tipper Form. 

Standard of N. Y. Public Schools Athletic League, 1909, for 
elementary boys thirteen years or over, 8 seconds; under thir- 
teen, 8 3-5 seconds. Standard of Racine County Athletic Meet, 
1911 : elementary school boys thirteen years or over, 8 3-5 sec. ; 
under thirteen, 9 sec. 



Seventy-yard Dash. 

Restricted to boys who weigh not more than 115 pounds, nor 
less than 96 pounds. 

The championship record of the Public Schools Athetic 
League in this event for 1910 was 8 3-5 seconds. (Elementary 
schools.) 



Plays and Games for Schools. 35 



Hundred-yard Dash. 

Resricted to boys who are fifteen years of age or over. No 
restrictions as to weight. 

The championship elementary school record of the Public 
Schools Athletic League in this event for 1910 was 11 seconds. 
The standard set (1909) was 14 seconds. 



RELAY RACES. 

220-yard Relay Race. 
For five Upper Form boys. 

440-yard Relay Race. 

For five high school boys. 



220-yard Run. 



For high school boys. 

Standard of N. Y. Public Schools Athletic League, (1909; 
28 seconds. I i 

'.J : I ■ i L. 



MISCELLANEOUS RACES. 

Basket Eall Relay Race. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Upper Form. 
Two basket balls or bean bags; two elevated baskets or other 
receptacles. 
Sides are chosen. The players of each side line up, single 
file, back of a starting line. The first player in each fde has 
a basket bail. At a signal he runs to a certain goal and throws 
the ball into the basket; then he returns and hands the ball 
to the next in line, who has moved forward to the starting line. 



36 Plays and Games for Schools. 

This player rims, "makes" a basket, returns, and hands the 
ball to the third player, and so on. A player cannot return to 
his file until he '"makes" a basket, no matter how many throws 
:rc necessary. The side wins whose last player first crosses 
the starting line after having "made" a basket. 

In place of basket balls, bean bags may be used and the 
throwing may be done from a line a few feet in front of a 
barrel or other receptacle. 

Variation. — The ball is passed over head to the last one in the 
file, who then runs forward, "makes" a basket, and returns 
to the front of the file; he backs up to the file, which moves 
back one place, and passes the ball over his head. The side 
wins whose last runner first backs up to the front of his file. 

Hopping Relay Race. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 

A starting line is drawn on the ground. At a distance of 
about fifteen feet in front of this line and parallel to it is a 
goal, which is preferably a wall or fence; it may be a line 
drawn on the ground. The players are divided into two or 
more equal groups each of which forms a file back of the 
starting line. The first player of each group toes the starting 
line and faces the goal, the rest of the group standing one be- 
hind the other back of him. At a signal the first player in 
each file hops on the right foot to the goal, touches it while 
standing on one foot, then turns and hops back, touching the 
next player on the shoulder as he passes him on his way to 
the rear of the file. This player then hops to the goal and 
back and starts the next player as he passes him on his way 
to the rear of the file, in like manner the players hop in sue 
cession. When a player starts hopping, the file moves for- 
ward so that the next player toes the starting line. The penal- 
ty for touching the ground with both feet at once may con- 
sist in stopping till ten lias been counted aloud. The game is 
won by the group whose last player first crosses the starting 
line on his way back from touching the goal. 

If the game is repeated the hopping should next be on the 
left foot, then on the right foot and so on. Which foot is to 



Plays and Games for Schools. 37 

hopped on should be understood by all before beginning a round. 
A variation of this game may consist in jumping instead of 
hopping. 



Jumping Relay Race. 

Playground. S or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
The players line up in two or more equal files behind a 
starting line which is parallel to another line at a distance 
from it of from twenty to sixty or more feet. At a signal 
the first players in each line jump from the starting line and 
keep on jumping till the goal line is reached and then turn 
about and run back. The files in the meantime have moved 
forward to the starting line. Yv r hen the first player of a file 
comes back, he touches the outstretched hand of the second 
player, as a signal for him to start jumping and then passes 
on to the foot of the file. On his return the second player 
touches off the third player, and so on. The file wins whose 
last player first crosses the starting line on his return. 

Line Relay Race. 

Playground, if large enough ; otherwise the road or a field 
must be used. 10 or more players. Middle and Upper 
Forms. 
Z 3 4 5 



Line A 



z 



Lme<B 



Gbe.l 
Lino 



Line A is made up of players 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, who are one 
to several rods apart, depending on the space available for 
the game. Line B consists of players I 1 , 2 1 , 3 1 4 1 , and 5 1 , who 
stand abreast of the players of line A, as shown in the dia- 
gram. The goal line is as far in front of players 5 and 5 1 as 
the distance between the players in each line. 

At a signal player 1 in line A runs forward and touches 



r>3 Plays and Games for Schools. 

player 2 on the shoulder and player l 1 iu line B runs forward 
and touches player 2 1 on the shoulder. When a player is thus 
touched on the shoulder he runs forward and touches the 
player in front of him on the shoulder as a signal for him to 
run and start the player in front of him. When the last 
player in a line is touched he runs forward to the goal line. 
A player ceases running when he has started the one in front 
of him. ■ " v, | 

That line wins whose last player first reaches the goal line. 

A desirable modification may be made by having the players 
in each line carry forward a bean bag to the players in front 
of them; the bag is thus carried forward by the players in suc- 
cession. The last player in each line places the bean bag on 
the goal line. 

Potato Race. 

Playground. Individual competition, 2 or more players; group 
competition, 6 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 

Receptacles arc so placed that there are as many parallel 
rows twenty or more feet long (with a receptacle at each end) 
as there are players. In each receptacle at one end of the 
rows three to six potatoes arc placed. The start is made from 
the empty receptacles, each runner standing with one foot 
touching a receptacle. 

Individual Competition. — At the signal each player runs to 
the end of his row, picks up a potato, carries it back and places 
it in the other receptacle. This is repeated until all the pota- 
toes have been transferred, that player winning who first ac- 
complishes the task. 

Group Competition. — Groups are formed of any equal num- 
ber of players. Each group is assigned a row. At the signal 
the first player in each group transfers the potatoes as de- 
scribed above. Immediately upon placing the last potato in 
the receptacle he touches the hand of the second player who 
proceeds to carry the potatoes back to the other receptacle 
one at a time. The third player on being touched off fetches 
the potatoes back ; and so the potatoes are transferred back 
and forth from one receptacle to the other till all the players 
have run. The group wins whose last player first completes 
his task. 



Plans and Games for Schools. 39 

Variation. — Receptacles are provided a1 only one end of the 
rows — the end a1 which the players are stationed. Potatoes 
arc placed at intervals of five feet along the rows. There 
should be four 01 more potatoes in each row, depending on 
the age and training of the players. At the signal the pota- 
toes arc gathered one at a time and placed in the receptacles. 
Individual or group competition may be used. In group com- 
peliton, the potatoes are gathered by the first players, dis- 
tributed by the second players, gathered by the third players, 
and so on. 

Relay Race. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
Single Relay. — Two or more teams of an equal number of 
players (four or more) line up, each team in single file, behind 
a starting line. At the signal the first player in each file runs 
to the goal line and back again, touches the outstretched hand 
of the second player, who runs to the goal line and on his re- 
turn "touches off" the third player, and so on. This continues 
until all the players in the file have run to the goal line and 
back. When a player starts running, the file moves forward 
till the foremost player toes the starting line. The team wdiose 
last player first crosses the goal line on his return wins the 
game. 

Shuttle Belay. — Instead of haying all the players of a team 
at one end of the running space, half may be placed at each 
end. Then the first player runs across the course and "touches 
off" the foremost player at the opposite end of the course, and 
so on. 

Three-Legged Race. 

Playground. 4 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
Boys. 

The players run in pairs, the right leg of one in each pair 
being tied to the left leg of the other. 

This game is suitable for occasional use. It would doubtless 
be an interesting feature at out-of-door celebrations of various 
kinds. 



40 Plays and Games for Schools. 



Wheelbarrow Race. 

Playground. 4 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
Boys. 

Boys take hold of the feet of other hoys and hold them as 
they would the handles of a wheeelbarrow ; the "wheelbar- 
rows" then run on their hands to a line marked off on the 
ground and return to the starting point. 

This game should be played only where there is clean grass, 
and the players should be required to wash their hands after 
the race is run. 



Rolling Target. 

Playground. 3 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Barrel hoop; bean bags* or other suitable missiles. 

Two or more players, each with a bean bag, line up side by- 
side, five or six feet apart. Another player stands to one side 
and rolls a hoop parallel to the line thus formed and ten or 
more feet in front of it. As the hoop passes in front of a 
player he tries to throw his bean bag through it without top- 
pling it over. II' he succeeds, lie scores one point. II" he 
knocks the hoop over lie is penalized one point or whatever 
may he agreed upon. After each round I he players move up 
one place, the one a! the head taking his place at the foot. The 
first to score ten points wins I he game. 

[f points are too easily made, the hoop should hi' rolled in a 
line farther in front of the line of throwers. A distance should 
he chosen which will develop skill in accurate throwing. 

The game can he made a team game, if there are enough 
players. The teams play three rounds each, alternately. The 
team which first scores five times as many points as there are 
players in a team wins the game. In this form of the game 
there is of course no penalty for toppling the hoop over. 



*Instcart of bean bags, stones or sticks of uniform size and shape (to be. 
hurled as spears) may he used. Bui this will necessitate great care that chil- 
dren shall not be in danger of being struck by the missiles. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 41 



Schoolroom Games. 

Select such games from those herein described as are adapted 
or may be modified Eor schoolroom use. But games should be 
played in the schoolroom only when it is inadvisable to play 
out of doors. 



SINGING GAMES. 

Charley Over the Water. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Lower and Middle Forms. 

One of the players, Charley, stands in the center; the others 
with hands joined circle about him, singing 
"Charley over the water, 
Charley over the sea ; 
Charley catch a blackbird, 
Can't catch me!" 
The players stoop just as the last word is said and should 
Charley tag any player before he stoops they exchange places. 

Farmer in the Dell. 

Playground. 10 or more players. Lower and Middle Forms. 
Girls. 
One player stands surrounded by children who, with hands 
joined, circle about, singing the verses given below. At the 
conclusion of the first verse, the child within the circle chooses 
one of the circle players to stand beside her. At the end of 
each of the succeeding verses the last one chosen beckons to 
another child to come within the circle. When the last verse 
has been sung, all the players jump up and down and clap 
their hands. The last one chosen then becomes the farmer and 
the game goes on as before. 



42 



Plays and Games for Schools. 



i 



t 



9^; i ; -' 



fe 



The farmer in the dell, 
The farmer in the dell, 
Heigh-o, the dairy, oh, 
The farmer in the dell. 

Thi' fanner takes a wife, 

The farmer takes a wife, 

Heigh-o, the dairy, oh, 

The farmer takes a wife. 

The \\ il'e takes a child, 
The w it'e takes a child. 

Heigh-o, the dairy, oh, 
The wife takes a child. 

The child takes a nurse, 
The child takes ;i nurse, 
Heigh-o, the dairy, oh, 

The child takes a inn se. 



The nurse takes a dog, 
The nurse \:\ki'^ a dog, 

Heigh-o, the dairy, oh, 
The nurse takes a dog. 

In like manner are sung : 

The dog takes a eat, etc. 

> The cat takes a rat. etc. 

The rat takes the cheese, etc. 

The cheese stands alone, etc. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 43 



London Bridge. 

Playground. S or more players. Lower and Middle Forms. 
Girls. 

This well known popular game lias been played by the little 
folks in many lands and dates back several centuries. 

Two players stand facing each other; they form an arch by 
clasping hands and raising them above their heads. The other 
players pass under the arch thus formed, while all sing, 

London Bridge is falling down, 

Falling down, falling down. 
London Bridge is falling down, 

My fair lady ! 

As the last words are sung the players forming the arch lower 
their hands and so catch one of the other players. The one 
caught is asked to choose between two valuable articles previously 
agreed upon by the two who form the arch or bridge, each article 
representing one or the other of these two players. As a player 
is caught and makes her choice she takes her place back of the 
one which she has thus chosen. When all have been caught, 
there is a tug of war between the two sides, the players standing 
one behind the other each with hands clasped around the waist 
of the one in front of her, the two leaders clasping hands. The 
side wins which pulls the other over a line on the ground on 
either side of which the contestants are ranged when the tug of 
war begins. 

The Mulberry Bush. 

Playground. 6 or more players. Middle and Lower Forms. 
As the players sing the first verse of the song given below 
they circle about with hands joined. When the rest of the verses 
are sung the action is suited in pantomime to the words. The 
first verse is sung as a chorus to each of the other verses except 
the last, the players in each case joining hands and circling 
about. When the refrain "So early in the morning" is sung, 
each player spins rapidly about in her own place. When the 
last verse is sung the players circle about as when the chorus is 
sung. 



44 



Plays and Games for Schools. 

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This is the way we wash our clothes, 
We wash our clothes, we wash our clothes, 
This is the way we wash our clothes, 
So early Monday morning. 

Chorus (Hero we go round, etc.) 

i 

This is the way we iron our clothes, 
We iron our clothes, we iron our dollies. 
This is the way we iron our clothes, 
So early Tuesday morning. 

Chorus (Here we go round, etc.) 

This is the way we scrub the floor, etc. (Wednesday morning) 

Chorus (Here we go round, etc.) 



* From Bancroft's "Games for the Playground, Home, School, and Gymnasium." By 
permission oj The Macmillan Co.. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 45 

This is the way we mend our clothes, etc. (Thursday morning) 

Chorus (Here we go round, etc.) 
This is the way we sweep the house, etc. (Friday morning) 

Chorus (Here we go round, etc.) 

Thus we play when our work is done, 
Our work is done, our work is done, 
Thus we play when our work is done, 
So early Saturday morning. 



Rabbit in the Hollow. 

Playground or schoolroom. 6 or more players. Lower Form. 



GERMAN. 




I. One child crouches in the center of the ring while the hunter roams with- 
out. The children in the ring chant and march around. 

II. When they come to "run, run, run," the hunter from without breaks thru 
while the rabbit escapes and is pursued. If caught he becomes the hunter 
while another child is chosen for the rabbit. 

III. "Hop, hop, hop," "hide, hide, hide," are actions for other verses which 
the child in center must imitate. At "hide" all Ihe children seek to shield the 
rabbit while the hunter must break thru and the chase is again made. 

— From ''Popular Folk Games and Dances." By permission of A. Flanagan Co. 



46 



Plays and Games for Schools. 



Kussian Haymaking-. 

Playground or schoolroom. 8 or more players. Lower and 
Middle Forms. 

, Well marked. 




Pitch the .iay, pitch the hay. 

On tne wagon il we'll throw; 
Driving homeward, driving homeward, 

To the hay loft it must go. 



In the winter, in the winter. 

When lac days arc short and cold; 

Pull the fodder, pull the fodder, 
For Ihe cattle in the hold. 



The first part of this song dance is 1<> pantomime the anion nj the words. 
Have the children enter earnestly into the gestures of the story ami give them 
correctly. Especially should ilu.se homely experiences he emphasized with city 
children. 

I. This dance may he formed in groups of eight in a square or in Ions lines 
with partners standing opposite. Couples or lines advance to center for first 
vers.', arm extended imitating rain drops. Hop-polka forward three measures 
with gestures, run to place with fourth measure. 

II. Repeal advance with opposite foot and arm movements. 

For chorus couples join hands and dance across lines hop polka step for two 
measures, toe-heel and clap three times. Repeat chorus and return to place; 
finishing with toe-heel and clapping. Retain this form giving new gesture to 
each verse. 

— From "Popular Folk flames ami Dances." By permission of A. Flanagan Co. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 47 



Skating. 

Little encouragement is needed for this sport where the op- 
portunity for it is <i'ood. The teacher should, however, by her 
supervision and advice, eliminate so far as possible the danger 
connected with it. By arranging for the removal of snow and 
by flooding, where this is feasible, skating may often be made 
a leading sport for a large part of the winter. See what the 
school library has to offer in regard to this sport by looking 
in the card catalog under the heading "Skating." An in- 
structive artiele on skating will be found in Champlin's Cyclo- 
pedia of Games and Sports, which is on the Township Library 
List. 

Skeeing. 

This sport is coining more and more into popular favor. As 
a school sport it fits in well with skating, for the snow which 
makes skeeing possible usually puts a stop to the skating. 
Skeeing should not be confined to sliding down hill; cross 
country runs should be encouraged. The sport is suitable for 
girls as well as boys. See what your school library has to 
offer on this sport. 

Snatch the Bean Bag. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 

Bean bag, stone, or other suitable object. 

The players are divided into two equal groups in the usual 
way. Two parallel lines are drawn on the ground about fifty 
feet apart. At a point half way between these lines a flat- 
topped stake is driven into the ground and on top of it a bean 
bag is placed. 

Each group of players is lined up behind one of the parallel 
lines, so that the first player in one group faces the first player 
in the other group with the bean bag on the stake between 
them. At a signal the first player in each group runs out and 
tries to get the bean bag and return with it to the goal line be- 
fore being tagged by his opponent. A player who succeeds 
in doing this makes his opponent a prisoner. A player who 



±8 Plays and Games for Schools. 

is tagged after he secures the bean bag and before he reaches 
the goal line becomes a prisoner of the other side. One or 
the other of the two opponents, then, must become a prisoner, 
fn every case it is the object of both opponents to get the bean 
bag and return with it to the goal line without being tagged 
by 1 lie other player. Much cleverness may be used in trying 
to do this. Effort should be made to pit players against each 
other who are as nearly equal in ability as possible. To 1his 
end, the lender on one side may first range his players side by 
side in the order in which they arc to play and then the leader 
on the oilier side should arrange bis players to the besl advan- 
tage in the order in which they are to play. 

The game ends when all the players on both sides have 
played onee. The game is won by the side which has the most 
prisoners. 



Swimming. 

Swimming is not only a healthful and enjoyable exercise, 
but it is often of value in the saving of life. Every boy and 
girl should learn to swim. Teachers should, wherever swim- 
ming pools are within a reasonable distance from the school, 
see to it that this desirable part of a practical education is 
in it neglected. Thinking and planning in order to bring about 
this result will be of more value to the children than much 
thinking and planning that has to do only with text-book les- 
sons. The time may come when the ability to swim will be 
one of the requirements for graduation from an elementary 
school course. 



TAG GAMES. 

Chain Tag. 

Playground. 6 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
One player is chosen to be the first link of the chain. When 
he has tagged a player the latter locks arms with him and 
forms the second link. These two links, without separating, 
add a third link by tagging another player who locks arms 
with the first player caught. In like manner other links are 



Plays and Games for Schools. 49 

added, the chain lengthening till it includes all the players as 
links. 



Cross Tag. 

T] ay ground. 5 or more players. All Forms. 

A tagger and a runner are chosen by counting out or other- 
wise. The rest of the players are assistants to the runner. 
Whenever one of them passes between the tagger and the 
runner, whom the former is chasing, the tagger must pursue 
the one who has thus relieved the runner. In like manner 
this runner and succeeding runners may be relieved. When 
a runner is tagged he becomes tagger and the tagger becomes 
runner. 

Daddy on the Castle. 

Playground. 5 or more players. Lower and Middle Forms. 

A circular space five feet or more in diameter is marked off 
on the playground. One of the players is Daddy and he takes 
up his position on the space marked off, which is the castle. As 
the others players step onto the castle they call out, "Daddy, 
I 'm on your castle. ' ' Daddy tries to tag them and if successful 
the one tagged becomes Daddy. 

Tommy Tiddler's Ground. — About half of the playing space 
is marked off as Tommy Tiddler's ground. One of the players 
is counted out as Tommy Tiddler. He takes his place on his 
"ground," whereupon the rest of the players tantalize him by 
getting onto his territory and crying, "I'm on Tommy Tiddler's 
ground, picking up gold and silver. ' ' Tommy perhaps pretends 
not to notice them, when all of a sudden he dashes after one of 
them and tries to tag him. Or he may pretend to be after one 
player and suddenly turn about and tag some one else. A 
player tagged while on the forbidden ground changes places 
with Tommy. 

Double Tag. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 

The players are grouped in couples with arAis locked. 
One couple is " It " and tries to tag the other couples. A couple 



50 Plays and Games for Schools. 

tagged becomes "It." Those who are "It" cannot tag unless 
they have their arms locked. If a couple chased separate, they 
become "It" as a penalty. 

Hang Tag. 

Playground. 8 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Trees with low branches, or oilier means of support for hang- 
ing by the hands. 
"It" pursues. Players are safe only when hanging by the 
hands with feet dear of the ground. A player tagged becomes 
"It." 



Moon and Morning Stars. 

Playground, (i or more players. Lower and Middle Forms. 

This game can lie played only when the sun is shining. One 
player is the moon, the rest are morning stars. The moon takes 
his place in the shadow of the sehoolhouse, or of some tree or 
other large object. The morning stars scatter about in the sun- 
shine; they may enter the shadow, but the moon may not step 
into the sunshine. The morning stars dance about in the sun- 
shine occasionally venturing into the shadow and saying: 
"0 the Moon and the Morning Stars, 
the Moon and the Morning Stars, 

Who dares 1<» tread — Oh, 
Inside the shadow?" 

The moon tries to tag the stars when tiny are in the shadow; 
any star tagged changes places with the moon. 



Partner Tag. 

Playground. 6 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
Boys or girls. 
One of the players is chaser, another is runner. The rest of 
the players lock' arms in couples. The runner is pursued by the 
chaser, and when he finds himself hard pressed he may luck anus 
with a player in one of the couples, thus displacing the other 
player in the original couple, who then becomes the runner and 



Plays and Games for Schools. 51 

has the same privilege as the preceding runner. If a runner 
is tagged, he becomes chaser and the chaser becomes runner. 

Shadow Tag. 

Playgronnd. 5 01 ' more players. Lower and Middle Forms. 

One player is chosen to he "It." He tries to step on the 
shadow of another player. If he succeeds, he calls the name 
of the player, who then becomes "It." 

To prevent his shadow from being stepped upon a player 
when hard pressed may bend in various directions or even lie 
down. 



Three Deep. 

Playground. 12 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 

One of the players is chosen to be chaser and another to be 
runner. The other players stand in couples six or more feet 
apart and arranged in a large circle. The players in each 
couple stand one directly behind the other, facing toward the 
center of the circle. 

The chaser and runner stand outside the circle and on oppo- 
site sides of it. At a signal the chaser pursues the runner 
around and in and out of the circle, trying to tag him. When 
hard pressed the runner may save himself by standing in 
front of a couple, which then becomes "three deep." The 
outer player then becomes the runner, is pursued by the 
chaser, and may save himself as did the preceding runner. A 
runner who is tagged changes places with the chaser. 

Many variations may be introduced. It may, for instance, 
be understood that runners must run only inside or only out 
side the circle ; that the runner may run around the circle only 
a certain number of times before displacing another player. 

Throwing the Lariat. 1 

Playground. 14 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms 
Boys and girls, separately. 
From seven to ten players form a line with arms locked. 



Adapted from 'The Snake and the Birds/' Angell, "Play," p. 127. 



52 Plays and Games for Schools. 

They are arranged hi order of height, the tallest being at the 
head of the line and the shortest at the foot. The head player 
is the cowboy who '"throws" the lariat (directs its move- 
ments), which is the rest of the line. The rest of the players, 
who are equal in number to those in the line, are wolves who 
have been troublesome and must be caught. They are scat- 
tered about the playground and all 'may move freely about 
within prescribed limits. The cowboy moves about and 
throws his lariat, trying to encircle a wolf with it. A wolf 
encircled is out of the game. When all the wolves have been 
caught, they form a line and those in the former line become 
wolves. The side wins which in the shortest time catches all 
the wolves. Or, if preferred, a time limit may be set, the side 
then winning which within the prescribed time catches the 
most wolves. 

In order that the two sides may be of nearly equal ability, 
the two leaders should choose alternately the followers who 
make up their lariat. 

This game may be played by boys or girls, but both should 
not take part in the same game. 



Trades. 



Playground. 8 or more players. Middle and Lower Forms. 
Sides are chosen. Goals are marked off forty or more feet 
apart. One side chooses some trade which it is to represent 
iii pantomime. The players of this side advance from their 
goal to the goal of the other side and say: 

"Here are some men from Botany Bay, 
Got any work to give us today?" 

The other players say, "What can you do?" The answer 
is given by going through some motions descriptive of the 
trade chosen. The opponents guess what trade is represented. 
If they guess correctly, the actors run back to their goal, pur 
sued by the gnessers. Any one tagged must join the other 
side, who now become the "men from Botany Bay." The 



Plays and Games for Schools. 53 

game continues till one side captures all the players of the 
other side. 



Tug- of War. 

Playground. 6 or more players. Upper and Middle Forms. 
Rope or strap. 

This game forms a well-known and popular diversion of 
celebrations and should be included among school games. 

A rope or strap has a ribbon or piece of tape tied about its 
uuddle. Sides are chosen, which line up on opposite sides of a 
scratch line, the players grasping the rope one behind the 
other. The rope is held so that the ribbon or tape is over the 
line marked on the ground. At a signal each side tries to 
pull the other over (he line. The side wins which succeeds in 
this attempt; or, if neither side succeeds in doing this, then 
the side wins on whose side of the starting line the marker 
of ribbon or tape is when the game ends. 

What is My Thought Like? 

Schoolroom or playground. Any number of players. Upper 
Form. 

The teacher or one of the pupils, thinking of some object, 
says: "What is my thought like?" Each of the other players 
names some object which he surmises the leader is thinking of. 
The leader then names the object which he had in mind. Each 
of the guessers must then tell why the object which he guessed 
is like the object named by the leader. If the leader thought of 
a book and a door had been guessed he says: "Why is a door 
like a book?" A good answer would be, "Because you can open 
and shut both of them. One who guessed a tree might answer, 
"Because they both have leaves." For a bell, the answer might 
be, "Because they both claim our attention." Strained re- 
semblances must often be made use of in order to justify guesses, 
but this will only add to the interest of the game. 

One who first guesses correctly becomes the leader for the next 
round; or, if no player has guessed correctly, that one becomes 
leader who is considered to have given the best answer, as deter- 
mined by a vote of the guessers, 



54 Plays and Games for Schools. 

The game may be varied by guessers telling why their thought 
is not like that of the leader. 



What Time Is It? 

Playground. 8 or more players. Middle and Upper Forms. 
One player it" the fox and the rest arc sheep. The sheep 
gather in one corner of tin playground and the Cox stands 
in the corner diagonally opposite. When the fox leaves his 
corner (the den) the slice}) leave their corner (the fold) and 
scatter over the playground. The sheep keep asking the fox, 
"What time is it?" The fox answers "two o'clock," "hall 
past six," or any oth< r time he may choose to name. When 
he says "Midnight." however, tin sheep must run for their 
fold, for the fox may pursue them as soon as he has given this 
answer. Any sheep caught before reaching the fold becomes 
the fox. 

Wolf. 

Playground. 5 or more players. Middle and i pper Forms. 

One player is chosen to be the wolf. The others, who are 
sheep, take their places at the goal, which may be a corner of 
the school house or grounds, a tree, or other suitable gathering 
place. The sheep blind their eyes while one of them counts 
loudly to one hundred or any other number agreed upon. 
During the counting the wolf hides. A1 the conclusion of the 
counting the sheep start to Look for the wolf. On first spying 
the wolf a sheep calls out, "1 spy the woolly, woody wolf!" 
The sheep then all run for the goal, pursued by the wolf. A 
aheep tagged before reaching the goal becomes a wolf and 
must join him in hiding and tagging. The wolves may all 
hide together or separately. The original wolf may run for 
the goal before- he is discovered and when Ik- has reached it, 
he may tag the sheep as they come in. However, before he 
can thus start for the goal, he mus! cry. "Sheep, sheep, sheep!" 
The sheep immediately answer, "Wolf, wolf, wolf!" The 
race for the goal then I egins. 

The game continues till all the sheep become wolves. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 57 



Apparatus for High Jump. 

Two standards are placed about nine feet apart. On sup- 
ports projecting from the standards on the side opposite to that 
from which the jump is made a cross-bar is placed so that it 
readily falls off when the jumper fails to clear it. 

The standards may consist of two two-by-twos seven feet long 
in which holes (say 5/16 inch) are bored one above the other and 
an inch apart. Iron rods of such a diameter (say %-inch) as to 
easily fit into the holes are bent as shown in the figure on page 
58 and attached by chains to the standards so that they can be 
adjusted to support the cross-bar at any desired height. 

A moveable supporting frame for each standard can be made 
by crossing two two-by-fours eighteen inches long, with a center- 
lap joint. On this supporting frame the standard may be braced 
by four shelf-brackets such as can be purchased at a ten-cent 
store. 

The material for this apparatus will cost about two dollars. 

As a makeshift substitute for the supporting frames, the stand- 
ards may be sharpened at one end and driven into the ground 
far enough to hold them in place temporarily. 

A cane fishing pole will answer as a cross-bar. To measure 
the height of jump a tape measure should be provided. 

By increasing the height of the standards to twelve feet above 
the ground, the apparatus can be used for the pole vault. In 
this case, however, there should be firmer supports for the 
standards. 



Horizontal Bar.* 

Aside from its use in chinning (pull up), the horizontal bar 
affords opportunity for a wide variety of "stunts" by the older 
boys. 

Two posts of well-seasoned oak, spruce, or southern pine, 12y 2 
feet long and 4 by 6 inches in cross-section, are set in concrete 
four feet in the ground and six feet apart. Round posts of cor- 
responding size would of course answer the purpose. If suitably 
braced, timbers of lighter wood may be used. 

A one-inch galvanized iron pipe from which all roughness 
and sharp edges have been removed will answer as a cross-bar. 



58 



Plays and Games for Schools. 




Standard for high jump, showing method of adjustment for various 

heights. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 59 

This is fitted into boles bored at a convenient height in the posts. 
To hold the bar in place and prevent it from turning' pass an 
iron pin through a hole bored near one end of the liar and at rigid 
angles to its length and a corresponding hole in the post into 
which that end is fitted. The apparatus can he made adjustable 
by boring holes for the bar at different heights. 
Cost of materials, about six dollars. 

* Substitutes for the horizontal bar may be improvised in a number 
of ways, of which the following are suggested: 

At the proper height for chinning fasten a bracket on each side of a 
doorway. On these place a bar with flattened ends. A hoe handle 
or similar handle, if strong enough, will answer' the purpose. The 
cross-uar is of course removed wnen not in use. 

Lean a ladder with rather long rungs at a suitable angle against 
the outer wall of a building. An advantage of this arrangement is its 
adaptability to the various heights of the boys practising chinning. 
It also provides opportunity for a variety of "stunts," such as going 
up the ladder hand over hand. 

A horizontal branch of a tree of proper size and height will answer 
for chinning, if nothing better is available. 



OTHER APPARATUS. 

Among the apparatus not recpiirecl for games and events in- 
eluded in this pamphlet, but with which it would be well to equip 
school grounds, the following are suggested : 



Swings. 

Swings are greatly enjoyed by the children and can be con- 
structed with little expense. Where horizontal branches of trees 
at the proper height are available only ropes and seat-boards need 
to be provided. On most school grounds, however, it will be nec- 
essary to make a frame of which a suggested construction fol- 
lows. 

For a two-swing frame use two sixteen-foot posts about ten 
inches in diameter. These are to be set in concrete four feet in 
the ground and about twelve feet apart. Timbers of fir 4 by 6 
inches in cross-section may be used if suitably braced. * Across 
the top securely fasten a 4 by 6 timber, preferably of fir. For 



For a suggestion as to bracing, see cut on page 66. 



60 



Plays and Games for Schools. 



each swing pass through this cross-piece and hold in place with 
nuts two eye-bolts eighteen inches apart; the bolts are located 
so that the distances from swing to swing and from swing to 
post are equal. This will be about three feet. In order that the 
swing rope may easily be removed and replaced, the bolt-eye 




Swing and flying rings. From Annual Report of Superintendent O. J. 
Kern, Winnebago Co., 111., 1910. 



should have an opening at the lop, thus making a hook rather 
than an eye. Each end of the %-inch Manila rope is attached 
by means of a "rope thimble" to a link which in turn fits into 
the hook of the eye-bolt. 

Seat-boards should be ten inches wide and about two feet long 
and the rope should be of such length that the boards come about 
two feet above the ground. A safe method of attachment of the 
seat-board is illustrated by the above figure. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 61 

A blacksmith can make the eye-bolts and links to which the 
rope ends are attached. "Kope thimbles" can be purchased at 
a hardware store. 

The cost of the material for the above construction will be 
about ten dollars. 

In place of one of the swings, "flying rings" might be substi- 
tuted, as illustrated on the preceding page. 

The rings should be about nine inches in diameter (outside 
measurement) and should be made of %-inch round bar steel. 
They should be very smooth. 

Caution. Examine the ropes from time to time to see if any 
flaws have developed. 



Teeter Totters. 

The boards should be of straight-grained Washington spruce, 
southern pine, or Oregon fir, and free from knots. They should 
be 10 to 11 inches wide, about 12 inches thick, and 14 feet long ; 
dressed and smoohed on all sides and with all edges and ends 
rounded; finished by several applications of boiled linseed oil. 
To prevent splintering, cross-pieces should be nailed on the un- 
der side near the ends. 

The figures on pages 62 and 63 illustrate a simple movable 
frame made of pine lumber. A "four-by-four" ten feet long is 
supported by "two-by-fours" (28 inches long) nailed on and 
braced by cross-boards, as shown in the figures, so that the top of 
the "four-by-four" is two feet above the ground. On this is laid a 
"two-by-four" of equal length. This is beveled on the upper 
edges below where the teeter boards are to be attached. It is held 
in place by six %-inch eye-bolts, nine inches long, so located that 
they will come in pairs under the teeter boards as shown in the 
figures. Under each bolt-eye is a cast iron washer one-half inch 
thick (or a number of thinner ones). Onto the under side of the 
middle of each teeter board two "two-by-four" strips, two feet 
long, are nailed parallel to each other and the edges of the teeter 
boards and one and three-quarters inches from the outer edges. 
The eye-bolts must be placed so that the eyes come just outside 
these strips. Through the middle of the strips a hole is bored 
so as to come opposite the bolt-eyes when the teeter board is in 
place. Through this hole and the bolt-eyes a %-inch bolt is 



62 



Plays and Gamer for Schools. 




Plays and Games for Schools. 



63 



passed and secured by means of a nut. This bolt is of such a 
length that it does not project beyond the edges of the board. 

For a two-board teeter totter (which will answer for most 
schools) the frame should be about seven feet long. The mate- 
rials for such a teeter totter will cost about six dollars. 

It will probably be necessary to have a blacksmith make the 
eye-bolts. 




l>etails of construction of teeter totters in the preceding illustration. 



Giant Strides. 



Giant strides are a good substitute for the merry-go-round, 
which is so popular with children. The top of the post should be 
twelve feet or more above the ground. It should be set in con- 
crete four fret or more in the ground, and should rest on a large 
flat stone or a pier of concrete. The ropes (six in number) may 



64 



Plays and Games for Schools. 



be attached to an iron wheel" which revolves about an iron peg 
driven into the top of the post. They should when hanging reach 
within a few inches of the ground. At the free ends there should 
be knots cr loops for the children to take hold of. See figure 

below. 

Specifications for making the "home-made wagon skein stride" 
are given on page 225 of "Playground Technique and Play- 
craft." Sec booklist, page 76. 






■SJ^P^^i/t/cZTL ■ 



ltt 




' ' .7/ "- rf 

Homemade giant s : 3. Prom Annual Report of Superintendent 0. J. 
K< i i), Winnel ago Co., [11., 1910. 



Sand Box. 



An arrangement by which the Primary Form pupils may have 
the opportunity to play with clean sand will supply a form of 



* An iron wheel of some abandoned piece of farm machinery will 
answer the purpose. 



Plays and Games for Schools. 05 

activity to which they are greatly attracted and which in addi- 
tion has important educational possibilities. 

The sides of the sand box should be made of 2-inch dressed 
planks 12 inches wide, with the upper edges rounded. Spreading 
may be prevented by stakes driven into the ground so as to 
brace the planks from the outside. The woodwork should be 
finished with two coats of good outdoor paint or with several 
applications of boiled linseed oil. 

Clean quartz sand should be used. It should be kept moist 
(not wet), since comparatively little can be done with dry sand. 
Thin cross-boards should be provided on which the children may 
place the sand. Miniature shovels and pails will add greatly to 
the possibilities of the sand box. 

The lumber and paint for such a sand box ten feet long and 
four feet wide will cost about four dollars. 

Slides. 

The slide is a desirable piece of apparatus for a playground, but 
it would probably have to be purchased ready made and most 
rural schools could not afford to pay the price, which is fifty 
dollars or more. 



READY-MADE APPARATUS. 

Numerous illustrations of playground apparatus will be found 
in catalogs issued by the firms listed below. These catalogs will 
afford suggestions for the making of apparatus and will give 
an idea of what to buy if money is available for the purpose. 
There is considerable discount from the list prices. 
Fred. Medart Manufacturing Co., 

St. Louis, Mo. 
Narragansett Machine Co., 

Providence, R. I. 
A. G. Spalding & Bros., 

Chicopee, Mass. 
W. S. Tothill, 

"Webster Ave., Chicago, 111. 



66 



Plays and Games for Schools. 




Plays and Games for Schools. 67 



SUGGESTIONS FOR A COUNTY FIELD DAY. 

An annual county field day participated in by one-room, 
graded, and high schools would greatly promote play activity 
throughout the school year. Aside from this desirable result, 
it would afford an occasion for people from different parts 
of the county to get together and become acquainted, and that 
means much for their social welfare. The schools of Racine 
county have celebrated such a day the past three years and 
gratifying results have been achieved. Patrons of the schools 
have been present in large numbers. On pages 72 — 75 will 
be found some cuts giving an idea of this event. Ulster 
county, New York, has attracted considerable attention by its 
successful annual field day and play picnic for country children, 
as described by Myron T. Scudder in a pamphlet listed on 
page 77. 

The suggestions which follow are made not for the purpose 
of giving a detailed plan for a county field day, but rather 
with the idea that they may perhaps start some thought and 
discussion of the subject and thus lead to the introduction of 
some form of this event, which has in it possibilities of great 
benefit to rural communities especially. Only a few counties 
in the United States have thus far made use of the idea. 

Expert help is desirable, especially in getting started. In 
Racine county the physical director of the Y. M. C A. of Ra- 
cine and his assistants supervise the field day events. When 
such help cannot be secured consultation with experts and wide 
reading on the subject followed by careful planning ought to 
bring good. results. A booklist on play will be found on page 76. 

Country schools should have a prominent part, perhaps even 
the leading part, in field day celebrations. For it is in rural 
communities that there is the greatest need of stimulating 
play activity. In fact one of the causes of the drift cityward 
is the lack in the country of proper provision for recreation. 

Prizes in the form of badges and trophies form an essential 
part of field day celebrations. For suggestions as to these, 
see the announcement of the Racine County Athletic Meet, 
page 72 ; also Scudder 's "Field Day and Play Picnic for Country 
Children" (listed on page 77). 



68 



Plays and Games for Schools. 




Relav rare. 




Potato race. 
Racine County scholastic field meet, 1911, 



Plays and Games for Schools. 



GO 




Baseball throw. 




Trophies. 
Racine County scholastic field meet-. 



70 Plays and Games for Schools. 

Athletic badges should be awarded to all boys who come up 
to certain standards in prescribed events. See "Athletic 
Badge Standards," page 72. See also "Official Handbook" 
listed on page and Scudder's Field Day and Play Picnic," 
listed on page 77. Schools in the various classes (one-room, 
graded, and high) might profitably enter into a contest to de- 
termine which school in each class can make the best average 
record in the athletic badge events. It would have to be stipu- 
lated that in order to make a school eligible to compete no 
less than a certain percentage of all enrolled who meet the age 
or other requirements must take part. 

Competitive playing of some of the games described in this 
publication would form a valuable feature of a county field 
day. Certain games for the various Forms, not forgetting the 
youngest children, might be selected and announcement made 
at the beginning of the school year that these games would be 
included in the field day events. Athletic events should of 
course receive their due share of attention. 

Preliminary field days in the various townships might be 
held to determine who should compete in certain events at the 
county field day. For some events, however, it would perhaps 
be better to have entries from individual schools under cer- 
tain prescribed conditions. 

Team events should be provided for, in order to encourage 
participation by children Avho are not especially skillful, but 
who will be greatly benefited by taking part. See "Group 
(lames," page xiv. See also Scudder's Field Day and Play 
Picnic for Country Children," page 39. Early in the year cer- 
tain schools of about equal enrollment and age of pupils might 
be invited to compete on field day in some such events as 
prisoner's base, running broad jump, chinning the bar (pull 
up), shuttle jumping, relay race, potato race (group competi- 
tion) etc. 

Placards showing where the different events are to take 
place should be posted on the grounds. To prevent interfer- 
ence with some of the events, such as racing and base ball 
throw, it would be well to rope off certain areas. 

Events for adults would form a valuable feature of a county 
field day. They would very likely increase the attendance 
and would form a pleasing diversion both for the grown peopjp 



Plays and Games for Schools. 71 

and the children. A certain portion of the day might be 
allotted to these events. 

Taking- care of the people should be carefully provided for. 
Good suggestions will be found in Scudder's "Field Day and 
Play Picnic for County Children," page 24. 

The raising of money for expenses can be arranged for in a 
number of ways. Each school entering contestants might raise 
money toward the county field day by means of an entertain- 
ment or otherwise. In Racine county a liberal and public 
spirited citizen supplies the prizes and trophies. Other ex- 
penses are met by the sale of refreshments on the grounds. 



72 Plays and Games for Schools. 

Racine County Schools Athletic Meet 

Union Grove, Saturday. June 3, 1911. 1 P. M. 

At Racine County Old Settlers' Picnic Grounds 



OFFICIAL ENTRY BLANK 

CLASS I-FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ONE ROOM SCHOOLS OR- RVRAL SCHOOLS 

Division A-For Boys under 13 years of age. 

60-yard dash Name 

Standing broad jump Name 

Running high jump Name 

Relay race-220 yards Names 2 



Division B— For Boys 13 years or over. 

60-yard dash Name 

Standing broad jump Name . 

Running high jump Name. 

Relay race-220 yards Names. 



on C For Girl, under I 3 year, of ego. 

40-yard dash Name 

Base ball throw Name 

Potato race Name 

on D— For Girls 1 3 year, or older. 

60-yard dash Name. . . . 

Base ball throw Name.... 

Potato race Name .... 



CLASS II Tor school children In the grided schools or schools hevlng mot 
Division A-For Boy. under 13 years of a.e. 

60-yard dash Name 

Standing broad jump Name 

Running high jump Name 

Relay race— 220 yards Names 2. 



Division B — For Boys 1 3 year, or over. 

60-yard dash Name. . 

Standing broad jump Name.. 

Running high jump Name. . 

Relay race— 220 yards Names. 



Division C — For Girls under 13 years of age. 

40-yard dash Name . . . 

Baseball throw Name.... 

Potato race Name — 

Division D For Girls 13 years or older. 

50-yard dash -Name. . . 

Base ball throw Name.. 

Potato race Name .. 



CLASS Ill-FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 
Division A- High School Boy.. 

Running high jump Name 

Running broad jump Name 

Pole vault Name 

J mile run. Name 

410-yard relay race Names 2 



SPF.CIALS. 



High School Base Ball-Nan 

5 6 

Graded school base ball-Na 



ATHLETIC BADGE STANDARDS. 
Boys tinder 15 yeera of si*. Boys 13 veers or over, under High School. High School Credos 

60-yard ■lash 9 sec. 60-yard dash 8 3-5 sec. 220-yard dash 28 se 

Pull-up 4-t.mes Pull-up 6 times Pull-up 9 tim 

Standingbroadjump .5«..8in. Standing broad jump ... .6 ft, 6 in. Running high jump 4ft.. 4i 

Under Athletic Badge Standards, pupils are to make these standards on the grounds of the meet. All boys in the (ii 

class will receive a Bronze Button, in the second class a Silver Button, in the third class a Gold Button. Lapel Button. 



PRIZES-AH entries will be furnished with Buttons. All Firsts will be awarded Blue Ribbons; Seconds, Red Rib- 
bons and all other winners. White Ribbons. Schools winning the most points will be awarded a banner The Township 
winning th.- niost 1..111'. will be awarded a Placque. In case of a tie both townships will he av.anle.1 .. .Iv. 
the second Placque will be awarded to the township winning the second place In Classes 11 and III. I lacquea will be 
awarded the winner on points on the entire- series of athletics. In the special base ball games a Placque will be awarded 
the winners. 

POINTS-The points are scored for individual and relay events alike on a basis of 5 points for firsts. 3 for seconds 
and 1 for thirds. 

ENTRIES CLOSE with Mr. A. F. Grimm, Physical Director, Y. M. C. A., Racine, Wis., May 22, 1911. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. -Everts start promptly at I o'clock p. m. June 3rd. Judges in all cases will be 
from the Racine Y MCA even to the umpire of the base hall games. All contestants to report to Mr. Gnmm before 
11 o'clock June 3rd'. NO ENTRIES EXCEPT ON THESE BLANKS. 

District No Township or High School of Graded School 

Principal or Teacher 

G. J. ZIMMERMAN. County Superintendent. 



Plays and Games for Sci ools. 



73 



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Plays and Games for Schools. 



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Plays and Games for Schools. 



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Plays and Games fur Schools. 



LIST OF HOOKS ON (JAMES AND PLAYGROUNDS. 

Angell, E. D. Play; comprising games for the kindergarten, play- 
ground, schoolroom, and college. Boston, Little, Brown & Co 
1910. $1.50. 

* Arnold, E. H. Some inexpensive playground apparatus. New 

York. Playground Association of America. Paper, 5 cents. 
♦Bancroft, J. H. Games for the playground, home, school, and 
gymnasium. New York (Chicago). The Macmillan Co. 1910. 
$1.50. (H. 421) 
**Bancroft, J. H. School gymnastics, free hand. Boston (Chicago). 
D. C. Heath & Co. 1903. $1.50. (T. 180 — $1.10) 
Burchenall, L. Folk-dances and singing games; twenty-six folk- 
dances of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Kussia, Hungary, Italy, 
England, Scotland, and Ireland, with music, full directions for 
performance, and numerous illustrations. New York. G. 
Schlrmer. 1909. Paper, $1.50; cloth, $^.50. 
('amp, W. C. Book of football. New York. Century Co. 1910. 
$2.00 (H. 432) 
:|: Champlin, J. D. and Bostwick, A. E. Young folks' cyclopedia of 
games and sports. New York. 1899. Henry Holt & Co. (T. 
2 — $1.6 5) 
-Course in play for grade teachers. New York. (1 Madison Ave.) 
Playground Association of America. Paper, 15 cents 
Crawford, C. Folk dances and games. New York. A. S. Barnes 

& Co. 1909. $1.50 
Evers, J. J. Touching second. Chicago. Reilly & Britton. $1.25 

(H. 423) A book of baseball. 
Games book for boys and girls; a volume of old and new pas- 
times. New York. E. P. Dutton & Co. n. d. $2.50. (T. 
1214 — $1.30) 
-Graham, .1 and Clark B. H. Practical track and field athletics. 
New York. Fox. Duffield & Co. 1904. $1.00 (T. 247— 
$.60) 
Harper, C. A., comp. One hundred and fifty gymnastic games; 
compiled by members of the alumni of Boston Normal School 
of Gymnastics. Boston. Geo. H. Ellis Co. 1910. $1.25 
*Hofer, M. R. Children's singing games — old and new. Chicago. 

A. Flanagan Co. 19 01. Paper, $.5 
*Hofer, M. R. Popular folk games and d~nees for playground, 
vacation school, and schoolroom use. Chicago. A. Flan- 
gan Co. 1907. Paper, $.75 
Holton, M. A. Games, seat work, and sense training exercises. 
Chicago. A. Flanagan Co. 1905. $.40 (T. 833— $.32) 

Indoor games and exercises in connection with school work 
in the lower grades. 
'olmson G E. Education by plays and games. Boston (Chi- 
cago). Ginn & Co. 1907. $.90 (T. 862— $.75) 

* Johnson, G. E. 'What to do at recess. Boston (Chicago). Ginn 

& Co. 1910. $.25 

Kingsland. Mrs. B. Book of indoor and outdoor games, with sug- 
gestions for entertainments. New York. Doubleday, Page & 
Co. 1904. $1.50 

Leland, A. and Leland, L. H. Playground, technique and play- 
craft, vol. 1. Springfield, Mass. F. A. Bassette Co. 1909. 
$ 2 50 

Partial contents: Philosophy of play; Playground architec- 
ture; Playground construction; Plans, specifications, and direc- 
tions for the manufacture of home made apparatus; Bibliog- 
raphy. 



Plays and Games foe Schools. 77 

Mann, C. W. School recreations and amusements. New York 
(Chicago). American Book Co. 1896. $1.00 

Valuable mainly for indoor recreations in connection with 
school branches. 

Mero, E. B., ed. American Playgrounds; their construction, equip- 
ment, maintenance and utility. Rev. ed. Boston. Dale As- 
sociation. 1910. $2.00 

Newton, M. B. Graded games and rhythmic exercises for primary 
schools (for the school room and playground). New York. 
A. S. Barnes & Co. 1909. $1.25 (T. 957 — $1.00) 

* Report of the Committe on Athletics for boys. New York. Play- 

ground Association of America. Paper, 5 cents. 

* Report of the Committee on athletics for girls. New York. Play- 

ground Asso. of America. Paper, 5 cents 

Report of Committee on Folk Dancing. Same address and price 

as the preceding title 

**Scudder, ivi. T. field day and play picnic for country children. 

New York. Charities Publication Committee. Paper, 10 cents 

Seton, E. T. and Baden-Powell. Boy scouts of America. N. Y. 

Doubleday, Page & Co. $.50 (H. 424) 
Social plays, games, marches, old folk dances, and rhythmic move 
ments tor use in Indian schools. Washington, D. C. Office of 
Indian Affairs. 
Spalding's Athletic Library. New York. American Sports Pub- 
lishing Co. Each of the following titles is paper bound and 
lists at ten cents. A complete list of titles in the series can 
be secured from the publishers. 

No. 1. Spalding's c±T.cial base ball guide 

No. 2A. Spalcuii s o.uciai soccer football guide 
No. 202. How to play base ball 
No. 15 7. How to play lawn tennis 
No. 19 3. How to play basket ball 
No. 9. Spalding's official indoor base ball guide 

No. 156. Athlete's guide 
*No. 246. Athletic training for school boys 
*No. 313. Official handbook of Public Schools Athletic 

League 
*No. 314. Official handbook of girls' branch of Public 

Schools Athletic League 
*No. 331. Schoolyard athletics 
White, M. and White, S. Book of children's parties. New York. 
Century Co. 1903. $1.00 (T. 248— $.60) 



* Suggested for first purchase; titles double-starred fire especially 
recommended. 

H.— List of books for hisrh school libraries, 1911. 
T.= List of fcc.clrs for township libraries, 1910-11. 



INDEX TO GAMES. 



In order to facilitate selection of games a number of items are indi- 
cated under the line giving title and page, as follows: 

P — playground; S = schoolroom; the numbers refer to the number 
of players (5-f. for example, means 5 or more players); L = Lower 
Form ; M = Middle Form ; U = Upper Form ; B = boys ; G = girls. 



Page 

Advancing statues 1 

P "> L M U 

All-up relay 1 

P 10+ M U 

Animal blind man's buff 2 

P or S S+ L M I 

Hall games 3 

Bar pull 10 

P or s 2 V B 



Base hall 3 

Base ball throw 3 

P 2+ M U 

Basket ball 3 

Basket ball relay race 35 

P S U 

Batting the ball 4 

P :j+ M U 

Bean bag board 11 

P or S 2 h M U 

Bean bag contest 11 

P or y in J- I. M I! 

Bean hag games ■ 11 



Plays and Games for Schools. 79 

Page 

Bean bag race 12 

S 20+ L M U 

Bear in the pit 13 

P 8 + M UBoru 

Bird catcher 13 

S or P 6+ L M U 

Bird sale 13 

P 6+ M U 

Black and white 14 

P 11+ M U 

Black Tom 29 

P 8+ M U 

Blackboard relay 15 

S 8+ L M U 

Buzz : 15 

S 6+ M U 

Captain ball 4 

P 20+ or— U B or G 

Cat and mouse 16 

P 12+ L M U 

Center stride ball 6 

P 8+ M 

Chain tag 48 

P 6+ M U 

Charley over the water 41 

P 8+ L M 

Chicken market 16 

P or S 5+ L M U B 

Chinese wall 29 

P 8+ L M U 

Chinning the bar 17 

P 1+ U B 

Coasting 17 

Come with me 17 

p 10+ L M U 



80 Plays and Games for Schools. 

Page 

Cress tag 49 

P 5+ L M U 

Daddy on the castle 49 

P 5+ L M 

Dashes 34 

P 2+ U 

Day and night. See Black and white. 

Dodge ball 6 

P 10+ M U B or G 

Double tag 49 

P 8+ M U 

Duck en a rock 18 

P 5+ M U 

Farmer in the dell 41 

P 10+ L M G 

Fifty-yard dash 34 

P 2+ UBorG 

"Fly away" 18 

S or P 5+ L 

Follow the leader 19 

P or S 10+ L M U 

Fortv-yard dash 34 

p 2+ U G 

Four-hundred-fort v yard relay race 35 

P 5 U B 

Fox and gander 19 

P 8+ M UBorG 

Fox and geese 20 

P 8+ M U 

Hang tag 50 

P 8+ M U 

Hide and seek 20 

P 4+ L M U 

Hill dill 29 

p 8-1- M U 



Plays and Games for Schools. 81 

Page 

HoT.ping relay race 36 

P S+ M U 

Horse and rider 7 

P 6+ U B 

Horse shoes. See Quoits. 

Hundred-yard dash 35 

P 2+ U B 

I spy. See Hide and seek. 

Imitation 21 

S or P 5+ L M U 

In and out the window 21 

P 12+ L M 

Indoor baseball 7 

Jumping 21 

P 2+ M U B 

Jumping relay race 37 

P 8+ M U 

Jumping rope 24 

P 1+ L M U 

Kaleidoscope 24 

S or P 8+ M U 

Last couple out 25 

P 9+ M U 

Leapfrog 25 

P 5+ M U B 

Line relay race 37 

P 10+ M U 

London bridge 43 

P 8+ L M G 

Long ball 7 

P 12+ M U B 

Magic music 26 

S 5+ L M U 

Marbles 26 



82 Plays and Games for Schools. 

Page 

May-pole dance 27 

P 16+ M U 

Miscellaneous bean bag games 12 

Miscellaneous races 35 

Modes of travel 27 

P 5+ L M U 

Mocn and morning stars 50 

P 6+ L M 

Mulberry bush 43 

P 6+ L M 

My lady's toilet 28 

S 6+ L M U 

One old cat 8 

P 4+ M U G 

Partner tag 50 

P 6+ M UBorG 

Party games 28 

Pass ball 9 

P 12+ M U 

Pom pom pull away 28 

P 8+ M U 

Potato race 38 

P 2+ M U 

Prince of Paris 29 

S 8+ L M U 

Prisoners' base 30 

P 8+ M U 

Pull up. See Chinning the bar. 

Puss in a circle 31 

P or S 10+ L 

Pussy wants a corner 31 

P 5+ L M 

Quoits 32 

P 2+ M U 



Plays and Games for Schools. 83 

Page 

Rabbit in the hollow 45 

P or S 6+ L 

"Rabbit's nest 32 

P 14+ M U 

Races 32 

S 2+ M U 

Relay race 39 

P 8+ M U 

Relay races 35 

Rolling target 40 

P 3+ M U 

Running broad jump 22 

P 2+ U B 

Running high jump 22 

P 2+ U B 

Russian naymaking 46 

P or S 8+ L M 

School ball 9 

P 4+ L M U G 

Schoolroom games 41 

Seventy-yard dash 34 

P 2+ U B 

Shadow tag 51 

P 5+ L M 

Shuttle jumping 23 

P 6+ M U 

Shuttle relay race 39 

P 8+ M U 

Singing games 41 

Single relay race 39 

P 8+ M U 

Sixty-ynrd dash 34 

P 2+ U B 

Skating 47 

Skeeing 47 



84 Plays and Games for Schools. 

Page 

Snatch the bean bag 47 

P 8+ M U 

Standing broad jump 23 

P 2+ M U B 

Standing hop, step, and jump 24 

P 2+ M U B 

Swimming 48 

Tag games 48 

Three deep 51 

P 12+ M b 

Three iegged race 39 

P 4+ M i) B 

Throwing the lariat 51 

P 14+ M UBorG 

Tommy Tiddler's ground 43 

P 5+ L M 

Trades 52 

P 8+ L M 

Tug of war 53 

P 6+ M I 

Two-hundred-twenty-yard relav race 35 

P 5 U B 

Two-hundred twenty-yard run 35 

P 2+ H S B 

Volley hall 9 

p 2+ b 

What is my thought like 53 

S or P 2 + 

What time is it? : '-l 

P 2+ M U 

Wheelbarrow race 40 

p 4+ M I B 

Wolf o4 

P 5+ M U 

Yards off 20 

p 6+ L M U 



GENERAL INDEX. 



PAGE 

Apparatus 55 

Apparatus for high jump 57 

Athletic badges 70 

Balls 55 

Bean bags 5 5 

Books on games and playgrounds 7 b 

Boys' and girls' games xiv 

Cautions xv 

County field day 6 7 

Ethical value of play x 

Flying rings 60 

Giant stride 63 

"Give them a place to play" xviii 

Group games xiv 

Gymnastics xv 

Health viii 

Horizontal bar 57 

Illustrations 

Balls 56 

Baseball throw 69 

Burr Jones playground 66 

Captain ball 5 

Giant stride 64 

Line relay race 37 

Maypole dance ii 

Potato race 6 8 

Racine county schools athletic meet 72 

Relay race 6 8 

Score cards 73-75 

Standard for high jump 58 

Swing and flying rings 60 

Teeter totters 62 

Teeter totters (detail) 63 

Trophies 69 



86 



General Index. 



page 

Independence Day celebrations xii 

Index to games 78 

Introduction vii 

Jump standards 57 

Law requiring instruction in games and playground manage- 
ment xiii 

List of books 76 

Manufacturers of playground apparatus 65 

Marking xvi 

Party games 28 

Playgrounds xvi 

Play rooms xvii 

Plays and games for schools 1 

Racine County field day 6 7-69; 72-75 

Ready-made apparatus 65 

Rural schools and play xi 

Sand box 6 4 

School work x 

Schoolroom games 41 

Score cards 73-75 

Selection of games xv 

Shade xvi 

Slides 65 

Succe-s * x 

Supervision of play by the teacher xiii 

Swings 59 

Table of contents v 

Team events ^0 

Teeter totters 6 * 



LE N'U 






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